Adil Raja, six others handed double life sentences for ‘digital terrorism’ATC imposes 35 years additional imprisonment Rs1.5m fine as trial conducted in absence of accused
YouTuber Adil Raja, Wajahat Saeed Khan, Sabir Shakir, and Shaheen Sehbai, anchorperson Haider Raza Mehdi, analyst Moeed Pirzada, and former army official Akbar Hussain were all given two life sentences by an Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on May 9, 2023, in connection with riots in the nation..The court ordered that all sentences run concurrently. While the proceedings were concluded in absentia, the convicts retain the right to file an appeal in the Islamabad High Court within seven days. All sentences remain subject to final confirmation by the High Court.
Further, the court extended the benefit of Section 382-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure which allows for a period of detention to be considered while awarding a sentence of imprisonment.
The relevant SHOs have been directed to take the convicts, currently considered absconders, into custody.
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