Wajahat Saeed, Adil Raja, others awarded life sentences in ‘digital terrorism’ case
- ATC completes trial in absence of accused following request by prosecution
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in the federal capital has delivered a landmark verdict in the May 9 “digital terrorism” case, handing down severe prison sentences to five high-profile individuals for inciting activities against state institutions, Aaj News reported.
Presiding Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra on Friday sentenced Adil Raja, Haider Mehdi, and Wajahat Saeed Khan to double life imprisonment. Similarly, Sabir Shakir and Moeed Pirzada were also awarded double life sentences.
According to court sources, the convicts face additional legal consequences beyond life imprisonment as an aggregate of 35 years of imprisonment was awarded under various other legal provisions.
A total fine of Rs1.5 million has been imposed on each of the convicted individuals.
READ MORE: Notification issued: Cabinet declares Adil Raja ‘proscribed person’ under ATA
The sentences were distributed across different FIRs; Sabir, Moeed, and Akbar were sentenced in the Aabpara Police Station case, while Shaheen, Haider, and Wajahat were sentenced in the Ramna Police Station case.
The court completed the trial in the absence of the accused following a formal request by the prosecution. While Raja Naveed Hussain Kayani represented the state, the court appointed Advocate Gulfam Ashraf Guraya to serve as defence counsel for the accused to ensure legal requirements were met.
The verdict follows allegations that the individuals utilised digital platforms and social media to orchestrate and incite “terrorist activities” against state institutions during the unrest of May 9. Legal experts view this decision as a significant precedent and a stern warning against the use of digital space for anti-state narratives.
Scores of leaders and supporters of the embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been facing multiple cases for their alleged involvement in the violent protests that erupted countrywide on May 9, 2023 following arrest of PTI founding chairman Imran in a corruption case.
The government accused them of inciting the May 9, 2023, protests, during which demonstrators attacked military and government buildings, including the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and Jinnah House Lahore.
The federal cabinet a week ago approved a summary imposing a ban on former Pakistan Army Major Adil under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, declaring him a proscribed individual.
A notification issued by the Ministry of Interior, had said the decision, taken under Section 11[EE] of the ATA, was communicated in a notification dated December 26.
Pakistan on December 4, 2025 formally handed over extradition papers for Adil to the British government, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urging London to immediately return the YouTuber, who is wanted in multiple cases at home.
Adil, a former army major who reinvented himself as a YouTuber, was convicted in 2023 by a military court under the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act on charges that included incitement and the leaking of sensitive information. Raja has also previously lost a major defamation case in the UK, where a London court ruled allegations he levelled against a retired intelligence officer were false.
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