Diligent YouTuber Major (retd) Adil Raja lost a crucial round in a defamation action against Brigadier (retd) Rashid Naseer at the UK High Court. The English court judge denied all of his requests, including a request to halt a defamation trial that former Brigadier Naseer was pursuing against him.
According to the court’s decision, Adil Raja made statements on YouTube, Facebook, and X (previously Twitter) that were gravely defamatory to Rashid Naseer. These words were published in nine different outlets.
Adil Farooq Raja was ordered by Deputy High Court Judge Richard Spearman KC to pay £5,000 to the retired Brigadier in response to his motion to have the defamation trial stayed being heard. The judge further mandated that the YouTuber make an additional interim payment to cover costs.
The defendant, Adil Raja, has until April 17, 2024, to make this payment.
Raja appeared before the court virtually via video link with assistance from PTI UK leader Mahtab Anwar Aziz, who also represents PTI activist Shayan Ali. Raja argued that the case of Brig (retd) Naseer should be stayed on several grounds, including claims that Pakistan was an authoritarian state where the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) controlled the government and the judiciary, as well as claims of election rigging in Pakistan. All of Raja’s arguments were rejected by the court.
