Pakistan top spy agency cleared of kidnapping, torture allegations, UK court told

LONDON: Former senior Pakistani military officer Brigadier (retd) Rashid Naseer has told the UK High Court that Pakistan’s top intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and the army have no connection to the kidnapping and torture incidents and allegations in Pakistan.

While testifying against Maj (retd) Adil Raja in his defamation case, retired Brigadier Rashid Naseer was cross-examined on the second day of the trial by both Adil Raja’s lawyer, Barrister Simon Harding, and Naseer’s lawyer David Lammer.

Former Army Major (retd.) Adil Raja has denied making false and exaggerated allegations against Brigadier (retd.) Rashid Naseer on social media.

The allegations include claims related to the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya and an assassination attempt on former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Lawyer David Lemmer, while cross-examining Adil Raja on the second day of the trial, said that he had only served in the army up to the rank of major and could not have the information that is available to higher officers.

Adil Raja, who appeared in court via video link “Zoom”, said that he had been a field commander, participated in several military operations and was the head of the media wing of the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society.

He said that I am still in touch with the silent soldiers, those who want stability, democracy, and development in Pakistan, my sources are still present in the institutions of Pakistan.

Deputy Judge Richard Spearman KC of the London High Court made remarks at the beginning of the second day of the trial that he would not allow Brigadier (retd) Rashid Naseer’s defamation case against Adil Raja to be turned into a trial of Pakistani politics.

The judge remarked that the case was about defamation of an individual (Brigadier Rashid) and had nothing to do with the overall political situation in Pakistan or the role of the army or the ISI.

The judge made Adil Raja’s lawyer admit that Adil Raja did not have a “truth-based defense.” Adil Raja immediately withdrew his “truth-based defense,” meaning that he could not claim that the allegations against Rashid Naseer were true.