LONDON: A London High Court on Wednesday directed UK-based YouTuber and former Pakistan Army major Adil Raja to pay £6,100 in legal costs to retired Brigadier Rashid Naseer in an ongoing defamation lawsuit.
The decision followed a half-day preliminary hearing presided over by Master Davison, held ahead of a full trial scheduled in approximately six weeks.
The session addressed three key procedural applications. One involved Raja’s request for his witnesses — including journalist Shaheen Sehbai, retired Col Akbar Hussain, and former PTI adviser Mirza Shahzad Akbar — to testify remotely from abroad. The judge approved the request in principle, noting that remote appearances from the US were standard and did not require a formal application.
In another matter, Raja had initially sought to present testimony from an anonymous witness, but later withdrew the request. While Brigadier Naseer did not object to the use of an anonymous witness, the judge declined to make an immediate ruling on the associated costs, postponing that decision until the trial’s conclusion.
The third application, submitted by Naseer, sought enforcement of delayed payments from a prior court ruling. Raja’s legal counsel argued the payments had already been fulfilled, but the judge disagreed and ordered Raja to pay £6,100 within 14 days.
Following the hearing, Raja downplayed the court’s decision, framing it as a “two to one” outcome in his favour. He emphasized the court’s willingness to allow remote testimony and its decision to defer cost rulings related to the anonymous witness.
The defamation case revolves around allegations made by Raja on his digital platforms, which Naseer claims were false and damaging. The case is expected to proceed to a full trial in late July, drawing significant attention due to the high-profile individuals involved.
