Post by : Meena Ariff

An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has handed down life imprisonment sentences to several journalists and social media commentators after convicting them of inciting violence during the nationwide unrest that erupted in 2023 following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The verdict was delivered on Friday in Islamabad by Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra. The court concluded the trials in absentia, as none of the accused appeared before the court, having left Pakistan in recent years amid fears of arrest.

Those sentenced include former military officers who later became YouTubers, Adil Raja and Syed Akbar Hussain, along with senior journalists Wajahat Saeed Khan, Sabir Shakir, and Shaheen Sehbai. Political commentator Haider Raza Mehdi and analyst Moeed Pirzada were also among those convicted. According to court records, all the accused are currently residing abroad.

The convictions are linked to violent protests that broke out across Pakistan in May 2023 after Imran Khan was briefly taken into custody in a corruption-related case. The demonstrations quickly escalated, with crowds attacking military installations, government buildings, and other state property, marking one of the most serious episodes of civil unrest in the country’s recent history.

In response to the violence, the Pakistani government and military launched a sweeping crackdown against Khan’s political party and its supporters. Authorities registered hundreds of cases under anti-terrorism laws, accusing individuals of orchestrating or encouraging attacks on state institutions. Prosecutors alleged that media figures and online commentators played a key role in fueling unrest through their broadcasts and online content.

Human rights and press freedom organisations have repeatedly expressed concern over the investigations, warning that the cases could be used to silence dissent and critical journalism. Several of the convicted individuals have rejected the charges, maintaining that they neither called for violence nor were present in Pakistan during the unrest.

Journalist Sabir Shakir, speaking after learning of the verdict, said he was outside the country when authorities accused him of inciting mob violence. He described the ruling as an act of political victimisation, arguing that it was aimed at suppressing independent voices rather than delivering justice.

Under the court’s ruling, the convicted individuals have seven days to file appeals against their sentences. The court has also instructed law enforcement agencies to arrest them immediately and transfer them to prison should they return to Pakistan.

The verdict has added to ongoing debates over press freedom, political accountability, and the use of anti-terrorism laws in Pakistan, as the country continues to grapple with deep political divisions following the arrest and imprisonment of Imran Khan.

#Global News #Asia News