London: Brigadier Rashid Naseer has achieved a significant legal victory in a defamation case against former Major and YouTuber Adil Raja at the London High Court.
The British court ruled against Adil Raja, ordering him to pay damages and legal costs totaling approximately Rs 13 crore. Specifically, the judgment directs Raja to pay £50,000 (equivalent to Rs 2 crore) in damages to Rashid Naseer, along with nearly £300,000 (Rs 11 crore) in legal expenses.
This case was initiated by Brigadier Rashid Naseer following a series of false and defamatory allegations made by Adil Raja. The claims included accusations of corruption, election rigging, misuse of police power, and involvement in horse-trading, among others. Adil Raja had also alleged that Rashid Naseer became a billionaire as a result of his supposed involvement in the change of government and accused him of controlling the Lahore High Court and bribing politicians. These allegations were made publicly across platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
The judge, Richard Spearman KC, categorically declared the statements as baseless and highly defamatory, recognizing the substantial harm they caused to Rashid Naseer’s reputation. Adil Raja not only failed to present credible evidence but also could not substantiate claims regarding his sources or justify his allegations under the guise of public interest.
As part of the decision, the court stipulated that Adil Raja must publish summaries of the verdict on all his social media platforms, affirming Rashid Naseer’s innocence and denouncing the allegations as false. Additionally, Raja was prohibited from repeating these claims in any future statements.
Witness testimonies also failed to support Adil Raja’s arguments. Shaheen Sahbai, Shahzad Akbar, and Syed Akbar Hussain, who appeared in defense of Raja, did not provide any evidence suggesting wrongdoing by Rashid Naseer. Furthermore, allegations involving ISI’s connection to related incidents, such as the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif, were dismissed as unfounded after thorough examination.
In his statement following the verdict, retired Brigadier Rashid Naseer emphasized that justice prevails irrespective of geography or circumstance. He characterized the victory as a triumph not only for himself but for all individuals who have been targeted by baseless accusations. He also condemned those who spread misinformation for personal gain, asserting that such actions cannot be defended in any court.
The hearing for this landmark defamation case took place between June 22 and June 27 this year, marking an important precedent for accountability and truth in matters of public discourse.
