Adil Raja Denies Alleged Arrest by UK Police, Slams Pakistani Media for False Reporting
Former army personnel and YouTuber Adil Raja strongly refuted reports of his arrest by the United Kingdom police on Tuesday, criticizing the Pakistani media for spreading what he called “fake news.”
In a post on his social media account, previously known as Twitter, Raja expressed his disbelief in the credibility of Pakistani news outlets, referring to them as a “blackmailing business.” He stated, “The ‘fake news’ of my arrest/questioning by the UK police, published a few hours ago by the sold-out Pakistani media, exposes the credibility of Pakistani news outlets, if there was any left.”
Raja’s response followed a report by Pakistan Press International (PPI), citing diplomatic sources, claiming that he had been arrested in the UK on charges of inciting people against Pakistan’s state institutions.
The news agency asserted that the British officials had confirmed the arrest and that Raja had been summoned for an inquiry. According to PPI, the allegations against the former army man included sharing content deemed hateful against Pakistan’s institutions on social media.
It is worth noting that last month, two former army officers, including Adil Raja, were court-martialed several years after their retirement, with sentences of up to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Raja, a former major, and Raza Haider, a former captain, had their ranks forfeited under the court-martial decree, removing the titles “major” and “captain” from their names. The results of the court martial proceedings were announced on November 25 in a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), indicating that both officers were convicted for charges related to inciting sedition among army personnel, violating the Official Secrets Act of 1923, and engaging in acts prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state.
