ATC imposes additional 35 years of imprisonment, fine of Rs 1.5 million as trial takes place in absence of accused
Major (retired) Adil Raja. SCREENSHOT
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has awarded double life sentence to YouTuber Adil Raja, former army official 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 the context of the events of May 9, 2023. The court also awarded additional sentences totaling 35 years under other sections, as well as 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 conviction of Shaheen Sehbai, Haider Mehdi and Wajahat Saeed.
The prosecution, led by Raja Naveed Hussain Kiani, produced 24 witnesses before the court. At the request of the prosecution, the ATC continued and concluded the trial in the absence of the accused, with lawyer Gulfam Ashraf Goraya being appointed by the court to represent them.
The court noted that under the Anti-Terrorism Act, proceedings can be conducted in the absence of the accused, subject to legal requirements.
