A court in Pakistan’s capital on Friday sentenced seven people, including three journalists, two YouTubers and two retired army officers, to life imprisonment after finding them guilty of inciting violence during the 2023 unrest and spreading hatred against state institutions.
Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra delivered the verdict in Islamabad after completing trials held in absentia, as none of the accused were present. All have been living abroad for several years to avoid arrest.
Those convicted are former editor Shaheen Sehbai, journalists Sabir Shakir and Moeed Pirzada, YouTubers Wajahat Saeed Khan and Haider Raza Mehdi, and retired army officers Adil Raja and Akbar Hussain.
The charges stem from violent protests that broke out in May 2023 after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a graft case. During the unrest, Khan’s supporters attacked military installations, set fire to government property, looted the home of a senior army officer and damaged the state-run Radio Pakistan building.
Khan was also indicted in 2024 on charges of inciting violence against military and government targets, allegations he has denied. He was removed from office through a no-confidence vote in Parliament in April 2022.
Prosecutors said the seven men, known as public supporters of Khan, encouraged violence during the May 9, 2023 riots after Khan repeatedly blamed his ouster on the United States and Pakistan’s military. The US government, the military and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have rejected those claims.
Sabir Shakir told The Associated Press that he was aware of the conviction and denied encouraging mob violence, saying he was abroad at the time. He described the ruling as political victimisation and said the trial proceeded without hearing arguments from his lawyer. He said he received two life sentences.
The other convicted men could not immediately be reached for comment.
The court order allows the seven to file appeals within seven days and directs police to arrest and jail them if they return to Pakistan.
Human rights groups and journalists’ unions say media freedom is shrinking in Pakistan amid growing restrictions. The Sharif government says it supports free speech but insists journalists and online commentators must follow ethical standards.