Overview
- Those convicted are Adil Raja, Syed Akbar Hussain, Wajahat Saeed Khan, Sabir Shakir, Moeed Pirzada, Shaheen Sehbai and Haider Raza Mehdi.
- The convictions stem from the May 9, 2023 unrest after Imran Khan’s arrest, with the court saying their online content incited violence and created fear under anti-terror laws.
- Each defendant received two life terms for waging war against Pakistan and criminal conspiracy, plus additional sentences totaling 35 years and fines of Rs1.5 million, with further jail time if fines are unpaid.
- The prosecution presented 24 witnesses as the ATC proceeded in absentia at the state’s request, with Prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kiani leading and court-appointed counsel Gulfam Ashraf Goraya representing the accused.
- The court directed police to arrest the men if they return to Pakistan, and press freedom groups including the Committee to Protect Journalists have denounced the cases as retaliatory.