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January 02, 2026 – Pakistan –
An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has delivered life imprisonment sentences to several journalists, YouTubers, and former military officials for their alleged roles in inciting violence and “digital terrorism” related to the May 9, 2023 protests that followed the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. These rulings, handed down in absentia, have ignited controversy over the use of anti-terrorism laws against media professionals and raised alarms among press freedom advocates about shrinking space for dissent in Pakistan.
The convictions came from trials tied to unrest in May 2023, when supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party staged widespread protests that included attacks on military and government infrastructure. The Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court found the defendants guilty of spreading “fear and unrest” through online content linked to the demonstrations, citing terrorism-related provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act and sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. All were sentenced to life terms, along with additional fines subject to judicial review and confirmation by the Islamabad High Court.
The court identified seven individuals as defendants: journalists Wajahat Saeed Khan, Shaheen Sehbai, Sabir Shakir, Haider Raza Mehdi, and Moeed Pirzada; YouTubers Adil Raja and Haider Raza Mehdi; and former army officer Akbar Hussain. Many of those convicted are believed to be residing abroad and were not present for the proceedings.
Critics have expressed concern about the legal process and its implications for press freedom. Defendants and rights groups argue that the convictions lack legal legitimacy due to trials in absentia, limited opportunity for defence representation, and the broad application of anti-terrorism statutes to online journalistic expression. Journalists such as Sabir Shakir have publicly rejected the charges, asserting they were not in the country during the protests and describing the verdicts as politically motivated reprisals against dissent.
International press freedom organisations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, have condemned the sentences, emphasising that penalising journalists for coverage or commentary on political events undermines fundamental rights to freedom of expression and independent reporting. The convictions occur amid broader concerns over media restrictions in Pakistan, where legal measures and digital censorship have increasingly been used to regulate online content and curb critical voices.
The Islamabad High Court retains authority to review and potentially overturn the life sentences, and the convicted individuals have a limited window to file appeals. Nonetheless, the case underscores intensifying tensions between state security laws and media freedom in Pakistan’s complex political landscape.
Reference –
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-03/pakistan-court-sentences-journalists-to-life/106196366
