Brigadier Retd Rashid Naseer wins £350,000 defamation case Against Youtuber Adil Raja

LONDON: Brigadier (Retd.) Rashid Naseer has won a landmark defamation case against Youtuber Adil Raja in the London High Court.

Youtuber Adil Raja was found guilty of making false, baseless, and malicious allegations against Brigadier Naseer and has been ordered to pay approximately £350,000 (around 14 crore Pakistani rupees) in damages and legal costs.

The case dates back to June 2022, when Adil Raja publicly accused Brigadier Naseer of serious misconduct, including involvement in the assassination of journalist Arshad Sharif, rigging elections, bribing politicians, and corrupt activities linked to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI. However, the court found no evidence to support any of these claims.

Justice Richard Spearman noted that the initial damages claimed by Brigadier Naseer, set at £50,000, were modest given the gravity of the allegations. The judge further ordered Adil Raja to publish a summary of the judgment on all his media platforms, confirming that the allegations were false and defamatory.

Additionally, Adil Raja must formally apologize and provide assurances that he will not repeat such allegations in the future.

During the trial, the court dismissed Adil Raja’s claim that his accusations were made in the public interest, as he failed to present any credible evidence or witnesses to support his case. His three witnesses- Shahien Sahbaie, Shehzad Akbar, and Syed Akbar Hussain- did not testify to any knowledge of Brigadier Naseer’s alleged corruption.

The judge also reviewed the fact-finding report related to journalist Arshad Sharif’s assassination and rejected claims implicating the ISI or Brigadier Naseer, highlighting that the report found no involvement by Pakistan’s intelligence agency.

Brigadier Naseer’s legal team expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating it was a strong message against false accusations and a victory not only for their client but for anyone targeted by malicious defamation.

In response to the judgment, Brigadier Naseer said, “Those who spread poison and chaos for personal gain cannot defend themselves in any court. This victory belongs to everyone unfairly targeted by malicious lies.”

The case was heard over several days in June 2025, culminating in a decisive ruling that reinforces the principle that justice ultimately prevails over falsehoods.