Adil Raja
Pakistani-born journalist and YouTuber

Adil Farooq Raja
Adil Raja in 2025
Born(1978-11-15)November 15, 1978
Allegiance Pakistan
BranchPakistan Army
Service years1999–2017
Rank Major
Unit18th Horse Regiment
Other workJournalist; YouTuber

Adil Farooq Raja (Urdu: عادل راجہ; born 15 November 1978) is a Pakistani-born journalist and YouTuber, and a former military officer who served as a major in the Pakistan Army until his retirement in 2017.[1][2]

He later served as a spokesperson for the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society (PESS) until 2022, when he announced his resignation.[3][4]

In April 2022, Raja was reported missing from Islamabad before later resurfacing in the United Kingdom. [5] After relocating to the United Kingdom, Raja became known for producing online video content in which he describes himself as a whistleblower and critic of the military establishment of Pakistan. In 2023, he was court-martialed in Pakistan on charges of sedition and espionage and sentenced in absentia to 14 years’ imprisonment [6]

Early life and military career

Raja was born on 5 December 1978 in Pakistan. He belongs to a Punjabi Rajput family with a military background; during World War 1, his great-grandfather Subedar Major Sardar Niaz Ali Khan of the British India Army was sentenced to life imprisonment in Kala Pani for his refusal to fight the Ottoman Empire.[7] His father was in the Pakistan Army, Major (Retired) Umar Farooq Raja.[8] He joined the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) and was commissioned into the Pakistan Army in 1999 as a member of the 99th PMA Long Course.[6][9] After graduating from the PMA with a bachelor’s degree in general science, military science, and international relations, Raja earned his master's degree from the University of Peshawar.[8]

Raja served in the Pakistan Army from 1999 to 2017, and retired as a major.[10][11] During his service, he was associated with the ISI and later served as a spokesperson for the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society (PESS) from 2019 to 2022 when he resigned.[3][5]

Following his retirement, Raja said he started a land acquisition business, later stating that his firm worked with organisations including Defence Housing Authority and Bahria Town.[12] In April 2022, Raja was reported missing in Islamabad following an incident involving security personnel at his residence; he later resurfaced in the United Kingdom.[5]

Exile and YouTube activism

In April 2022, Raja resigned from his position at PESS and was reported missing in Islamabad before later reappearing in London, where he joined his family.[5][13] He has stated that his family in Pakistan received threats, which he has attributed to his public disclosures.[14] While in the UK, he began producing YouTube videos under the channel Soldier Speaks, presenting himself as a whistleblower and alleging misconduct within the military.[10] His videos include claims of involvement by senior officers in political interference and human rights abuses, and have reportedly gained a following among critics of Pakistan’s military establishment.[14]

Raja has since been involved in a number of security-related incidents and legal matters, which are detailed in subsequent sections.

Transnational repression allegations

Reporting on alleged overseas intimidation of dissidents

Raja has reported on what he describes as transnational repression by the Pakistani military establishment, focusing on alleged efforts to intimidate, harass, or silence political dissidents living abroad.[15] In articles and video content published after his relocation to the United Kingdom, he has alleged that critics of Pakistan’s military establishment face surveillance, coercion, and threats outside Pakistan.[16] Raja has stated that he himself has been subjected to such pressure.[1] The issue of transnational repression has been widely documented in reports by international human-rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, as well as by United Nations special rapporteurs, who have warned that governments increasingly target critics beyond their borders through intimidation, harassment, and violence.[17][18][19] Pakistani authorities have denied involvement in such activities.[20]

House break-in and police investigation

In late December 2025, Raja’s residence in Chesham, England, was broken into by two men described by police as wearing dark clothing while the property was unoccupied. Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing London (SO15) took over the investigation due to the targeted nature of the incident, which police said was being treated as a potential attack on a dissident figure. [2] UK counter-terrorism police stated that they were investigating the break-in alongside related attacks on fellow critic of the Pakistani military establishment Shahzad Akbar in Cambridge, which included assaults and property damage, and that the incidents were being examined as potentially linked and coordinated. [21] Police said no arrests had been made, that investigations were ongoing, and that there was no immediate wider threat to the public, while safety advice was being provided to those affected. [21]

Reported assassination attempt

In January 2026, Indian news outlet ABP News published an investigative report alleging that individuals linked to Pakistani intelligence services, specifically the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), had discussed or prepared plans for overseas operations targeting critics of the military establishment, including Raja. The report cited intelligence-related material and described the alleged targeting as part of a broader pattern of transnational repression against dissidents abroad. UK counter-terrorism police later confirmed that matters relating to intimidation and potential foreign state repression involving Pakistani dissidents were under investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London (SO15). Pakistani authorities denied the allegations, and no arrests or charges had been announced at the time.[22]

Court-martial and sedition conviction

In 2023, Raja was charged under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, the Official Secrets Act, 1923, the Pakistan Penal Code, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, and the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 for inciting sedition, defamation, espionage, and acts prejudicial to state interests.[23][6] A Field General Court Martial convicted him in absentia on 7 and 9 October 2023, sentencing him to 14 years' rigorous imprisonment and forfeiting his military rank on 21 November 2023.[6][24] The conviction came after his content allegedly fomented rebellion, including during the May 9, 2023, protests that targeted military installations.[6]

UK defamation case

In August 2022, retired Brigadier Rashid Naseer filed a defamation case against Raja in London's High Court over online allegations of corruption, electoral interference, judicial manipulation, and human rights abuses.[25][14] In March 2023, a fake Metropolitan Police summons addressed to Raja circulated online, later debunked by Reuters as fabricated.[26]

The trial opened on 21 July 2025 at the Royal Courts of Justice, with Raja participating remotely due to safety concerns.[14] Witnesses, including former accountability official Shahzad Akbar, testified on alleged election interference in Pakistan's 2024 general elections.[14] In 2025, Raja characterized the defamation case filed against him in the United Kingdom as an effort by the ISI to weaponise libel laws to suppress dissent. [10][27]

On 9 October 2025, Richard Spearman KC, sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge, ruled that the statements published by Adil Raja were defamatory in law, finding that they were not supported by sufficient evidence to meet the legal standard required in defamation proceedings. [28] The defence of truth was withdrawn during trial, and the court awarded £50,000 in damages and ordered Raja to pay approximately £300,000 in legal costs. [10] In April 2025, the court had also ordered £6,100 in interim costs. [10] Rashid Naseer stated that the publications led to death threats and privacy concerns involving his family. [29] Raja has appealed the decision, maintaining that his reporting concerned matters of public interest and describing the case as a form of strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP). [25]

Extradition request

On 4 December 2025, Mohsin Naqvi filed an extradition request on the behalf of the Government of Pakistan to the UK High Commissioner Jane Marriott, seeking the extradition of Raja. The request was accompanied by documents citing allegations of anti-state propaganda.[30][31]

According to media reports, Naqvi linked the extradition request to Pakistan's acceptance of the return of two alleged ringleaders of the Rochdale grooming gang, arrangement that British officials said had been discussed but not agreed.[32]

Raja rejected the extradition effort, describing it as "politically motivated". In an interview with The Telegraph, he said the move amounted to “transnational repression” aimed at silencing his journalism, adding that he had committed no offence under UK law and that the allegations against him stemmed from his reporting on human-rights abuses and corruption within Pakistan’s military establishment. [1]

Proscription under anti-terror law

In December 2025, the Government of Pakistan declared Raja a proscribed person under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. [33] According to official notifications cited by the media, the government stated that it had “reasonable grounds to believe” his activities posed a threat to public order and national security. The proscription directed that Raja’s name be placed on the Fourth Schedule of the act, which allows authorities to impose monitoring and movement restrictions on designated individuals. [34]

Anti-terror conviction

In January 2026, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad sentenced Raja to two life terms in absentia after convicting him on terrorism-related charges linked to online activity in support of former prime minister Imran Khan and the May 9, 2023 protests. [35][36] British counter-terrorism police had previously investigated similar allegations against Raja and, in March 2024, dropped the case citing a lack of evidence; Raja later said that UK authorities had apologised following the decision. [37] The court ruled that the content published by Raja and several other journalists and YouTubers “fell within the ambit of terrorism” under Pakistani law. The defendants were not present in court and were reported to be living abroad. Media freedom organisations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, criticised the convictions as retaliatory. [38][39]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Hymas, Charles; Lateef, Samaan (9 December 2025). "Pakistan 'demands dissidents in return for grooming gang leaders'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b "UK counterterror police investigating attacks on Pakistani dissidents". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b @soldierspeaks (19 April 2022). "I have resigned from the position of the Spokesperson of the Pakistan Ex Servicemen Society-PESS henceforth" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 January 2026 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ "'Missing' retired army officer reaches family in London". The Express Tribune. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d Dawn.com (21 April 2022). "'Missing' ex-army officer reaches London 'safely', says will break silence 'in time'". Dawn. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Army's two ex-officers convicted of sedition". Dawn. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  7. ^ Adil Raja (@soldierspeaks) [@soldierspeaks] (14 June 2020). "My great grandfather Subedar Major Sardar Niaz Ali Khan Chib, Royal Indian Army, was sentenced to life imprisonment (Kala Pani) by the viceroy of British Empire upon his refusal to fight the Ottoman Empire alongside his complete tribe (Muslim Chib Rajput) in World War 1" (Tweet). Retrieved 5 January 2026 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ a b "Profile: Who is Adil Farooq Raja?". Daily Pakistan English News. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  9. ^ Adil Raja (@soldierspeaks) [@soldierspeaks] (31 July 2020). "Today it's the 21st Passing Out Anniversary of my course PMA 99th L/C. We graduated climbing those Red Stairs of Pakistan Military Academy in 'Slow March' on 31st July 1999." (Tweet). Retrieved 9 January 2026 - via X (formerly Twitter).
  10. ^ a b c d e "UK court orders YouTuber Adil Raja to pay legal costs in defamation case". Dawn. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  11. ^ Adil Raja (@soldierspeaks) [@soldierspeaks] (15 July 2025). "To Whom It May Concern. This is my Retirement Order from the Pakistan Army." (Tweet). Retrieved 9 January 2026 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ "About Me". 4 July 2023.
  13. ^ "'Missing' retired army officer reaches family in London". The Express Tribune. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Defamation trial of YouTuber Adil Raja opens in UK court". Dawn. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Transnational Repression by the Pakistani Military: An Alarming Reality". Soldier Speaks | Major (Retd) Adil Raja | Rights Activist | Independent Journalist. 1 January 2025. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  16. ^ Ahmed, Waqas. "Commonwealth Secretariat Lodges Dissent Against Pakistan's Escalation of State Repression". www.dropsitenews.com. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  17. ^ Human Rights Watch (12 December 2024), "Pakistan: Events of 2024", Share this via Facebook, retrieved 14 January 2026
  18. ^ "Human rights in Pakistan". Amnesty International. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  19. ^ "Pakistan". OHCHR. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  20. ^ "Pakistan Rejects the 2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices issued by the US State Department". mofa.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  21. ^ a b Shah, Murtaza Ali (8 January 2026). "London police believe attacks on Adil Raja, Shahzad Akbar were coordinated". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  22. ^ Mishra, Shivank (12 January 2026). "Exclusive | Files Expose Pakistan's Global Repression: Expose ISI Assassination, Espionage Plot". ABP Live. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  23. ^ "Ex-army officers convicted for inciting mutiny". The Express Tribune. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  24. ^ "One moment, please..." ispr.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  25. ^ a b "UK court rules against YouTuber Adil Raja in defamation case by retired army officer". Dawn. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  26. ^ "Fact Check: Metropolitan Police letter to Pakistani retired major is fake". Reuters. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  27. ^ Shah, Murtaza Ali (24 July 2025). "My publications were in public interest, Adil Raja tells UK court". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  28. ^ RICHARD SPEARMAN K.C.
    (Sitting as a Deputy Judge of the King's Bench Division), Naseer v Raja [2025] EWHC 2565 (KB), retrieved 10 January 2026
  29. ^ Shah, Murtaza Ali (22 July 2025). "At UK court, Pakistan's ex-serviceman says he and his family faced threats over false allegations". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  30. ^ "In meeting with UK high commissioner, Naqvi hands over extradition papers for Shahzad Akbar and Adil Raja". Dawn. 4 December 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  31. ^ "Pakistan submits extradition requests for Shehzad Akbar, Adil Raja to UK". The Express Tribune. 4 December 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  32. ^ "Pakistan links 'return of UK convicts to extradition of anti-state' suspects". Aaj English TV. 10 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  33. ^ Khan, Iftikhar A. (28 December 2025). "Govt declares YouTuber Adil Raja proscribed person under anti-terrorism law". Dawn. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  34. ^ Khan, Iftikhar A. (29 December 2025). "Adil Raja's name placed on Fourth Schedule". Dawn. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  35. ^ Asad, Malik (2 January 2026). "Islamabad ATC hands double life sentences to YouTuber Adil Raja, 6 others for 'waging war against Pakistan'". Dawn. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  36. ^ "Pakistan sentences journalists, YouTubers and ex-military officers to life over inciting violence". ABC News. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  37. ^ "British police drop terrorism case against Adil Raja citing lack of evidence". The Nation. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  38. ^ "Pakistan court sentences journalists to life over 2023 pro-Khan protests". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  39. ^ "Pakistan court sentences journalists to life over links to protests after Imran Khan's arrest". Reuters. 2 January 2026. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
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