Two more journalists have been charged with sedition.

On Wednesday, Islamabad police arrested two more anchors, Sabir Shakir and Moeed Pirzada, along with another person, on accusations of sedition and terrorism for their suspected involvement in the May 9 incident.

The case was recorded at the Aabpara police station more than a month after the incident in response to a citizen’s complaint, and it includes sections 102, 121, 121-A, and 131 of the Pakistan Penal Code, as well as provisions of anti-terrorism statutes.

According to the FIR, on May 9, the complainant was present at Melody Chowk, when an agitated mob vandalised property after receiving video messages from Sabir Shakir, Moeed Hassan Pirzada, and Syed Akbar Hussain.

The complainant alleged that the individuals identified in the FIR incited others to commit violence and incited them to attack military sites, promote terrorism, encourage mutiny, and cause turmoil in the country.

The case was filed in response to a similar FIR filed earlier this week, in which the police charged journalists Shaheen Sehbai and Wajahat Saeed Khan, as well as army officer-turned-YouTuber Adil Raja and anchorperson Syed Haider Raza Mehdi, with “abetting mutiny” and inciting people to attack military installations across the country.

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‘Mutiny claims might result in a death sentence’

Separately, global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) asked Pakistan to disregard the “ludicrous mutiny accusations in a complaint with no credibility” levelled against two journalists in the federal capital by an individual.

Although clearly ludicrous, the charges might result in the death penalty, it claimed, adding that the two journalists accused of “abetting mutiny” in a complaint filed with Islamabad police on June 12 are Wajahat Saeed Khan, a freelancer working in the United States, and Shaheen Sehbai, a former newspaper editor.

“The statements made by the two former army officers on social media video channels may violate military secrecy regulations.” “However, the two journalists have simply practised journalism,” the report claimed, adding that “arbitrarily associating” the names of journalists with those of “rebel ex-army officers” was intended to terrify the journalists into silence.

Imran Riaz Khan, a TV news anchor and political analyst who has been missing for more than a month, was also addressed in the statement.

‘Democratic values must be respected.’

Meanwhile, the US encouraged Pakistan to uphold democratic norms and the rule of law, adding that civilians arrested in Pakistan for the May 9 rallies will face military courts. “We are aware of reports concerning civilians who will face military trials for their suspected involvement in the May 9th protest,” US State Department Spokesperson Mathew Miller told reporters in Washington on Tuesday.

“We continue, as we have done in the past, to urge Pakistani authorities to respect democratic principles and the rule of law for all people, as enshrined in the country’s constitution.”

Mr Miller stated that the US meets with Pakistani authorities at the highest levels on a regular basis to address human rights, democracy, safety, journalist protection, and respect for the rule of law. “That remains a top priority for the United States,” he said.