The High Court in London has ruled against YouTuber and former Pakistan Army officer Major (retd) Adil Farooq Raja in a high-profile defamation case filed by Brigadier (retd) Rashid Naseer, a former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officer.
Justice Richard Spearman KC of the King’s Bench Division declared Raja’s allegations of corruption, political interference, and human rights abuses against Brigadier Naseer as “false, baseless, and malicious.” The court ordered Raja to pay £50,000 in damages and £300,000 in legal costs, roughly £350,000 (Rs130 million) in total.
The verdict further directs Raja to issue a written apology, publish a summary of the judgment on all his social media platforms, and provide a formal undertaking not to repeat the allegations.
The case, filed in August 2022, stemmed from nine social media posts and videos in which Raja accused Brigadier Naseer of manipulating elections, influencing courts, and engaging in corrupt practices on behalf of senior military officials. The court found these claims to be entirely unsupported by evidence.
Justice Spearman noted that Raja “failed to present any credible or verifiable source” for his accusations and described the remarks as “inflammatory and intended to damage Brigadier Naseer’s reputation, particularly within the British Pakistani community.” He added that freedom of expression does not extend to spreading falsehoods.
The ruling, which legal observers say could set an important precedent for online defamation cases, confirms that social media posts are admissible as evidence in British courts.
Reacting to the decision, Adil Raja expressed disappointment, calling it a “setback” but vowing to continue his “struggle for democracy” in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Brigadier Naseer hailed the verdict as “a victory for truth and accountability.”