Crushing Digital Dissent: Pakistani Court Hands Life Sentences To Journalists | Exclusive Details

Last Updated:January 03, 2026, 18:04 IST

Sources say that the court operates under the direct influence of General Asim Munir, serving as a political instrument to silence anti-establishment voices

The proceedings were conducted entirely in absentia, as the accused currently live in exile. (Representational image)

The recent sentencing of seven prominent journalists and commentators to life imprisonment by a Pakistani Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has sent shockwaves through the international media community, marking a definitive end to any semblance of press freedom in the country. On January 3, the ATC delivered a verdict against Adil Raja, Wajahat S Khan, Sabir Shakir, Shaheen Sehbai, Moeed Pirzada, Haider Mehdi, and Akbar Hussain, finding them guilty of “digital terrorism" and waging war against the state. The proceedings were conducted entirely in absentia, as the accused currently live in exile, underscoring the state’s intent to use judicial tools to target critics beyond its physical borders.

The legal basis for this unprecedented crackdown is rooted in the events of May 9, 2023, when the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan sparked nationwide rioting. Prosecutors argued that these individuals used digital platforms to amplify and facilitate unrest, essentially categorising online political commentary as an active terror threat. By framing digital speech as a violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Pakistan Penal Code, the administration has formalised a new legal doctrine where dissent is synonymous with terrorism. Top Indian intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that this is a calculated move to criminalise the online narrative and control the diaspora voices that significantly influence international opinion against the military establishment.

Intelligence analysts further highlight that the ATC is widely perceived as a state-managed entity rather than an independent judicial body. These sources argue that the court operates under the direct influence of General Asim Munir, serving as a political instrument to silence anti-establishment voices. To provide context to the court’s history, observers point out that this is the same ATC system that handled the Mumbai terror attack cases and controversially released Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi in 2015. The fact that every individual named in this latest verdict has a history of critical reporting against the army establishment reinforces the perception of a “kangaroo court" process.

This escalation has raised urgent concerns among global rights bodies regarding the absolute curtailment of media rights in Pakistan. By accepting the premise that a political narrative constitutes terrorism, the Pakistani state has created a dangerous legal tool to hunt exiled critics. Intelligence experts now suggest that world bodies should consider blacklisting Pakistan’s ATC system, arguing that it represents a defunct judicial process designed only to serve the interests of the military establishment while dismantling the foundations of global journalism and free speech.

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