LONDON – Adil Raja, an ardent critic of Pakistan, suffered another defeat in the London High Court, facing an unprecedented crackdown for his repeated false allegations against the Pakistani state and military figures.
Raja, who has a long history of spreading lies online, tried to overturn a previous ruling after losing a defamation case against Brigadier (r) Rashid Naseer. But his appeal spectacularly backfired. The court not only increased his fine but also ordered him to publicly apologise across all social media platforms for 28 days.
As per court orders, Adil Raja must pay £50,000 which is equal to Rs 10.7 million in damages. He must also pay €260,000 (Rs97.1 million) in legal costs by December 22. All apologies must remain prominently displayed on his Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube accounts for 28 days.
Justice Richard Spearman termed Raja’s allegations as “baseless, reckless, and damaging,” ensuring that the habitual liar could not escape accountability. Brigadier Naseer’s Moral Victory: The retired officer, who had to travel to England to defend his reputation, declared the ruling a “complete moral victory,” exposing Raja’s attempts to malign Pakistan and its heroes from abroad.
Raja is avoiding personal appearance in court, and sent only his lawyer, hiding from the very officer he defamed. The court also warned him never to make further defamatory statements. After repeated warnings, the Pakistani government has formally requested the UK to extradite him. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi even traveled to London to ensure Raja faces justice in Pakistan.
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