Transnational repression: four Pakistani journalists in exile sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia

The journalists' portraits were plastered on the streets of Pakistan's major cities, where they were presented as "traitors" to the nation. Even in exile, their persecution continues. The four Pakistani journalists sentenced to life imprisonment on 2 January 2026: freelance YouTube journalists Wajahat Saeed Khanand Sabir Shakir,former editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper The News International Shaheen Sehbai, and the editor-in-chief of the online media outlet Global Village Space, Moeed Pirzada.

According to the court rulings, the"terrorism"-related charges stem from content they posted online about the protests on 9 May 2023, which were triggered by the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Although they were covering events in Pakistan from abroad, they were accused of"inciting" violence, stirring up societal "unrest" and promoting "hostility" towards the armed forces and state institutions.

All four journalists are in exile, having left Pakistan for fear of reprisals. Three of them live in the United States and the fourth, Sabir Shakir, lives in Britain. According to RSF information, none of them have been officially informed of the "digital terrorism" charges brought against them, which allege that they used digital platforms to incite, facilitate and amplify attacks against state institutions. Furthermore, none of them have been given the opportunity to be represented by a lawyer.

These sentences are part of a wider, ruthless crackdown on the independent voices that dare to document the actions of Pakistan's powerful army. The current chief of army staff, Asim Munir, has had his power considerably strengthened withthe adoptionof the 27th amendment to the Constitution in November 2025, which allows him to command all the armed forces and guarantees him lifelong immunity from prosecution.

The relentless crackdown on journalists on all fronts

These exiled journalists have been subjected to a broad, unrelenting campaign of persecution in recent years by the Pakistani state and intelligence services including legal harassment, the cancellation of their Pakistani passports, having their bank accounts frozen, intimidating phone calls, threats against their relatives who remain in the country and the disclosure of their personal data, also known as doxxing. They have even seen posters plastered around the country portraying them as "traitors to Pakistan."

On 8 July 2025, an Islamabad court also ordered the blocking of 27 YouTube channelsunder the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for broadcasting "anti-Pakistan" content, including content by Wajahat Saeed Khan and Moeed Pirzada, as well as journalist named Ahmad Noorani.

An investigative journalist exiled in the United States, Ahmad Noorani was declareda "wanted person" on 3 December 2025 by an Islamabad court. The court orderedthat an arrest warrantfor alleged "propaganda" against the Pakistani army on social media be issued. Ahmad Noorani, founder of the investigative website Fact Focus, has been the subject of multiple charges in Pakistan since the publication of his investigationinto the army chief of staff in March 2025. His investigation revealed the alleged appointment of certain individuals close to the marshal to high-level positions despite not having the adequate qualifications. The day after the investigation was published, the journalist's two brothers were abductedin Islamabad and released 33 days later.