Islamabad, December 27, 2025: The federal government on Saturday formally added YouTuber and former Pakistan Army officer Adil Farooq Raja to the list of proscribed individuals under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, citing his alleged involvement in activities deemed prejudicial to national security.
According to official sources, the federal cabinet approved a circulation summary moved by the Interior Division to impose the ban under Section 11-EE of the ATA, which empowers the government to designate individuals involved in terrorism-related activities or facilitation. The cabinet also directed the Interior Division to submit an implementation report to the Cabinet Division within seven days.
Adil Raja, who is currently based in the United Kingdom, has been the subject of multiple legal and judicial proceedings in recent years. In November 2023, a Pakistani military court convicted him in absentia on charges of inciting mutiny and sedition, sentencing him to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Earlier this year, on October 9, 2025, a London High Court ruled against Raja in a high-profile defamation case filed by retired Brigadier Rashid Nasir, a former officer of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The court found Raja liable for defamatory content published on his social media platforms.
Sources further confirmed that in late 2025, the Pakistani government formally submitted extradition documents to the United Kingdom, seeking Raja’s immediate return to Pakistan to face the charges against him. The extradition request is said to be under review by the UK authorities in accordance with bilateral and international legal frameworks.
Officials say the decision to proscribe Raja reflects the government’s stated policy of taking “zero tolerance” measures against individuals accused of promoting violence, undermining state institutions, or inciting unrest through digital platforms. The move also comes amid heightened scrutiny of online content creators accused of spreading disinformation and hate speech from abroad.
The Interior Ministry has yet to issue a detailed notification outlining the specific restrictions that will apply following Raja’s proscription, which typically include asset freezing, travel restrictions, and limitations on public activities under the ATA.
