ATC Court Orders Asset Seizure, ID Blocking of Six Journalists and YouTubers Accused of Inciting Violence
On June 25, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad ordered the seizure of assets and the blocking of identification cards of YouTubers and journalists—including Adil Raja, Shaheen Sehbai, Moeed Pirzada, Sabir Shakir, Haider Mehdi, and Wajahat Saeed Khan— accused of inciting and provoking violence.
ATC judge Tahir Abbas Sipra directed the deputy commissioner to confiscate the accused’s movable and immovable properties.
Additionally, the court instructed the chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to block their identity cards and National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis cards while directing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general to block their passports.
The court has requested a compliance report on the implementation of its orders within 15 days and has set a deadline of July 10 for all relevant departments to submit their compliance reports.
The YouTubers and journalists are accused of inciting and provoking violence. In 2023, First Information Reports (criminal complaints) were registered against Sehbai, Khan, Pirzada, and Shakir — amongst others for allegedly inciting violence through their videos and social media posts on May 9, 2023, when violent protests erupted in Pakistan following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.
In May of this year, Sipra had ordered reopening of the trial of cases against media professionals who were declared proclaimed offenders the year prior.
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