Jan. 2 (UPI) -- An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday sentenced five journalists, a YouTube influencer and a military officer to two life sentences each for "digital terrorism" crimes.
Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Sipra announced the verdicts for the defendants, who were tried in absentia.
Pakistani law allows for trials in absentia, but their verdicts must be confirmed by the Islamabad High Court.
Those who were sentenced were Akbar Hussain, Wajahat Saeed Khan, Haider Raza Mehdi, Moeed Pirzada, Shaheen Sehbai, Sabir Shakir and Adil Raja.
Raja is a YouTube influencer, while Khan, Shakir, Sehbai, Mehdi and Pirzada are journalists. Hussain is a former Pakistan army officer.
