In a sharp escalation of the crackdown on dissent, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court in Lahore sentenced eight prominent journalists, analysts, and former military officers to life imprisonment on January 2, 2026. The convictions, handed down in absentia, stem from terrorism charges tied to their online content supporting jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan amid the violent unrest that erupted after his brief arrest in May 2023. The ruling includes additional fines and further jail time if unpaid, with sentences subject to confirmation by the Islamabad High Court.
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Convictions Linked to May 9, 2023 Protests
The charges relate to social media posts and commentary that authorities claim promoted “fear and unrest,” classified as terrorism under Pakistani law. The May 9 protests saw Khan’s supporters attack military installations following his short detention in a graft case, sparking a nationwide military-backed crackdown.
Among the convicted are former army officers-turned-YouTubers Adil Raja and Syed Akbar Hussain, journalists Wajahat Saeed Khan (based in New York), Sabir Shakir, and Shaheen Sehbai, commentator Haider Raza Mehdi, and analyst Moeed Pirzada. Most fled Pakistan years ago and did not appear in court. Wajahat Saeed Khan denounced the verdict as “political theater” without due process. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the move as intimidation against critical media.