I’m not writing this as a “fan” or a “hater.”
I’m writing this the only way adults should: show the record, test the claims, separate allegation from evidence.
Pakistan’s government has placed retired Major Adil Farooq Raja, known online as @soldierspeaks, on the Fourth Schedule under the Anti-Terrorism Act, citing his alleged promotion of anti-state narratives with links to terrorist groups.
The reported order triggers asset freezes, bank-account blocks, and restrictions on financial dealings, with enforcement agencies directed to submit compliance reports within seven days.
Raja, a UK-based commentator closely aligned with Imran Khan’s support ecosystem, has framed the move as political persecution. Government supporters, meanwhile, describe it as overdue action against what they call “chaos merchants,” while PTI-aligned voices denounce it as an assault on free speech. The reaction is sharply divided.
That divide is precisely why evidence matters more than emotion.
Retired Major Adil Farooq Raja has built a large digital following around explosive allegations and a persecution narrative. At the same time, the Pakistani state has escalated its response—including submitting extradition papers to the United Kingdom (alongside Shahzad Akbar), as reported by Dawn.
And in the UK—where evidence standards are unforgiving—Raja has already suffered a serious credibility setback.
A UK High Court ruled against him in a defamation case involving Brigadier (retd) Rashid Naseer, ordering Raja to:
