Brig (R) Rashid Naseer Wins Major Defamation Case Against Adil Raja in London High Court

Brigadier (retd) Rashid Naseer has achieved a major legal victory at the London High Court, where he won his defamation case against Major (retd) Adil Raja. The court ruled that Raja made several false and baseless allegations against Naseer without any factual proof. Judge Richard Spearman KC awarded £50,000 in damages to Naseer and issued an injunction stopping Raja from ever repeating those accusations.

Court Orders and Penalties

The court also ordered Adil Raja to publish a public summary of the judgment, clearly stating that his allegations were defamatory and untrue. In addition, Raja has been directed to pay legal costs of around £300,000, approved by the court. This case has become one of the most high-profile defamation outcomes involving Pakistani figures in the UK.

Claims Without Evidence

Brigadier Naseer had filed the lawsuit in August 2022, targeting ten posts made by Raja on Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook between June 14 and 29, 2022. The judge found nine out of ten statements seriously defamatory. These posts accused Naseer of controlling the Lahore High Court, manipulating elections, misusing ISI power, bribery, and involvement in political regime changes—claims the court said had no supporting evidence.

During the trial in July 2025, Raja initially argued that his statements were true, but he later abandoned the truth defence when he could not provide proof. His witnesses, including Shahzad Akbar and Shaheen Sehbai, also failed to offer any direct evidence. The judge noted that Raja had no documents, sources, or verification to back his allegations.

Judge’s Critical Remarks

Judge Spearman highlighted that Raja relied on assumptions and political opinions rather than factual reporting. The court stated that Raja acted irresponsibly by publishing claims without checking their accuracy. His public interest defence was also rejected because there was no reasonable belief or investigation before making the statements.

Naseer’s Response After Verdict

Brig (R) Rashid Naseer attended court proceedings in London and expressed relief after the judgment. He said,
“Today, I stand vindicated. This win is not just for me but for every person who has been falsely accused by those who spread lies for drama and hate.”
He thanked his legal team, including Barrister David Lemer and solicitors Ushrat Sultana and Sadia Qureshi, for their dedication.

A Landmark Case on Digital Defamation

This ruling is being seen as a significant warning to social media commentators and vloggers. The court confirmed that online platforms are not above the law, and false allegations causing harm can lead to serious legal consequences—both financially and reputationally.