Fri Jan 02 15:37:19 UTC 2026: Headline: Pakistani Court Sentences Journalists and YouTubers to Life in Prison for Inciting 2023 Riots
Islamabad, Pakistan – January 2, 2026 – A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has sentenced seven individuals, including three journalists, two YouTubers, and two retired army officers, to life imprisonment for inciting violence during the May 2023 riots that followed the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The verdict, delivered in absentia by Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, convicts the individuals of spreading hatred against state institutions and inciting unrest.
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 court order alleges the men, known supporters of Khan, fueled the violence that saw attacks on military installations and government property by targeting the United States and Pakistani military.
The riots erupted after Khan’s arrest on corruption charges. Khan, who was ousted from power in April 2022, denies inciting violence.
Sabir Shakir, one of the convicted journalists, told The Associated Press that the ruling was political victimization. He claimed to have left Pakistan before the riots and sought political asylum in Britain, fearing fabricated charges. Shakir states that he was given two life sentences in a trial conducted in absentia.
The other convicted individuals could not be reached for comment. They have the right to appeal the verdict within seven days. The court has ordered police to arrest and imprison them upon their return to Pakistan.
The case highlights growing concerns about press freedom in Pakistan. Human rights defenders and journalists’ unions argue that freedom of speech is shrinking in the country. While the current government asserts its support for freedom of speech, it maintains that journalists and YouTubers must adhere to ethical standards and journalistic principles.
First Piper 