London – The London High Court has ordered a prominent UK-based Pakistani social media commentator and YouTuber, Major (retd) Adil Raja, to pay £50,000 in damages to retired Brigadier Rashid Naseer.
The judgment, issued by Justice Richard Spearman KC on October 9, 2025, concluded that a series of allegations made by Mr. Raja between June 14 and June 29, 2022, were defamatory and entirely without foundation.
The High Court ruled decisively in favour of Brigadier Naseer, stating that Mr. Raja offered “no defence” to the claim of libel. The court also ordered Mr. Raja to cover Brigadier Naseer’s high legal costs, in addition to the damages.
The Court’s Finding
The case centred on allegations of corruption and political interference that were widely disseminated across various social media platforms. Brigadier Naseer sought justice to clear his name, arguing that the claims had severely damaged his reputation.
In his ruling, Justice Richard Spearman KC stated:
“At common law, a cause of action for libel is made out by proof that the defendant was responsible for the publication to one or more third parties of a written statement that bore a defamatory meaning about the claimant. Statute has added a requirement that publication caused serious harm to the claimant’s reputation or is likely to do so: Defamation Act 2013, s 1(1). If this much is established, the burden shifts to the defendant to raise a defence. So defamation remains a relatively simple tort to prove …”
These ruling underscores the UK judiciary’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for publishing serious and baseless claims, regardless of where the commentator is based.
Reactions Across Social Media
The verdict immediately triggered a flurry of reaction online, particularly among followers of Pakistan’s political landscape, where the commentator had a large following.
Adil Raja’s Response
Following the October ruling, Adil Raja used his own social media platform, X, to share the judgment of the court.
Netizen Divided
The political nature of the original allegations meant that the ruling was interpreted sharply differently across the internet.
Many supporters celebrated the fact that Adil Raja didn’t apologize to Brigadier Naseer, claiming it a victory of his narrative.
Conversely, those supporting the institutions seen as targeted by Mr. Raja celebrated the verdict as a victory for truth and integrity. They wanted Adil Raja to issue an apology to Brigadier Naseer.
