ATC imposes an additional 35 years in prison with a fine of Rs 1.5 million. as a trial conducted without a defendant
Major (retd) Adil Raja. SCREEN GRAB
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad has awarded double life sentences to YouTuber Adil Raja, former civil servant Syed Akbar Hussain and journalists Wajahat Saeed, Sabir Shakir, Moeed Pirzada, Shaheen Sehbai and Haider Mehdi, according to the court order.
The sentences were announced by ATC judge Tahir Abbas Sipra in cases described in the FIRs as “digital terrorism” against state institutions in connection with the events of 9 May 2023. The court also awarded additional sentences totaling 35 years under other sections, along with total fines of Rs 1.5 million.
Read: Government bans YouTuber Adil Raja
The court awarded life imprisonment to Sabir Shakir, Moeed Pirzada and Syed Akbar Hussain in cases registered at Aabpara police station, while separate cases registered at Ramna police station led to the sentencing of Shaheen Sehbai, Haider Mehdi and Wajahat Saeed.
The prosecution, led by Raja Naveed Hussain Kiani, produced 24 witnesses in court. At the prosecution’s request, the ATC went ahead and concluded the trial in the accused’s absence, with lawyer Gulfam Ashraf Goraya appointed by the court to represent them.
The court noted that under the Anti-Terrorism Act, trials can be conducted in the absence of an accused person subject to statutory requirements.
