Pak anti-terror court sentences 8 journalists to life over support for Imran Khan
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Islamabad: An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced eight journalists and social media commentators to life imprisonment in absentia for terrorism-related offences linked to online content supporting former Prime Minister Imran Khan, triggering serious concerns over press freedom and freedom of expression in the country, according to a media report.
The convictions stem from protests that erupted following Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023, when supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) allegedly targeted military installations. In the aftermath, Pakistani authorities launched a sweeping crackdown on PTI members and dissenting voices, invoking anti-terrorism laws and military courts to prosecute hundreds accused of attacking state institutions, a report by Modern Diplomacy said.
“The verdict raises serious concerns over press freedom and freedom of expression in Pakistan,” Modern Diplomacy noted. Critics argue that the use of anti-terrorism legislation against journalists and commentators risks criminalising political speech and online dissent. The ruling also underscores the expanding role of security courts in political cases and reflects a broader erosion of civil liberties following the May 2023 unrest.
The case is expected to further strain Pakistan’s relations with press freedom advocates and draw increased scrutiny from the international community over the use of anti-terrorism laws against journalists.
Separately, in December last year, the Human Rights Council (HRC) of Pakistan voiced grave concern over the continued “arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and judicial harassment” of journalist Sohrab Barkat, warning that the case raises serious questions about respect for press freedom, due process, and constitutional safeguards.
Barkat, an Islamabad-based correspondent for Pakistani news outlet Siasat, was reportedly detained at Islamabad International Airport on November 26 while en route to attend a United Nations conference.
According to the HRC, Barkat was unlawfully transferred to Lahore after his detention and later implicated in multiple cases, despite official submissions to the Islamabad High Court stating that no inquiry or case was pending against him and that he was free to travel.
“The contradiction between court submissions and subsequent actions reflects a disturbing disregard for the rule of law,” the HRC said.
The rights body noted that the allegations against Barkat relate solely to his professional work as a journalist, including conducting interviews, editing and publishing news content, reporting on peaceful protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and covering political dissent and human rights issues, activities it said fall squarely within the legitimate and protected domain of journalism.
The HRC also expressed alarm over reports that Barkat was detained without due legal process, produced late before courts, repeatedly remanded without clear or sustainable charges, and denied adequate access to his family and legal counsel.
“The emergence of successive cases at critical stages of the legal process appears aimed at obstructing bail and prolonging detention, further deepening concerns about misuse of legal mechanisms,” it said.
The organisation demanded Barkat’s immediate release, the withdrawal of all fabricated and politically motivated cases against him, and an independent and transparent investigation into his alleged abduction and treatment in custody. It further urged Pakistani authorities to end the systematic targeting and intimidation of journalists and to uphold the country’s constitutional and international obligations.
With IANS inputs