The federal cabinet has officially declared YouTuber and ex-army officer Adil Farooq Raja a proscribed person under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. The decision follows his involvement in anti-state activities and a series of legal convictions.

The federal cabinet approved the ban on December 26, 2025, under Section 11[EE] of the ATA 1997. The notification, issued by the Cabinet Division, directs authorities to submit a report on the implementation of the decision within seven working days.

The approval came after a summary dated December 23, 2025, submitted by the Interior and Narcotics Control Division, was circulated and endorsed as per rules 17(1)(b) and 19(1) of the Rules of Business, 1973.

Legal background

Adil Farooq Raja, currently residing in the United Kingdom, was among two retired Pakistan Army officers convicted under the Army Act and for violating the Official Secrets Act in 2023.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Raja was sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment, while Captain (retd) Haider Raza Mehdi received 12 years. Both officers were convicted of “inciting sedition” through a Field General Court Martial (FGCM), and their ranks were forfeited on November 21, 2023.

UK court proceedings

Earlier this month, a UK High Court ordered Raja to issue a public apology and pay approximately £310,000 in damages and legal costs to Brigadier (retd) Rashid Naseer following a defamation case he lost in October. Raja had attempted to appeal the judgment but the court ruled against him.

The Pakistani government has also initiated the extradition process for Raja and former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Mirza Shahzad Akbar, from the UK. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with UK High Commissioner Jane Marriott on December 4, emphasizing that both individuals are “wanted in Pakistan” and should be handed over immediately.

Raja’s activities on social media, including spreading anti-state narratives through YouTube, prompted the Ministry of Interior to include his name in the Fourth Schedule under the ATA. The ban, now formally approved by the federal cabinet, marks a decisive step in Pakistan’s efforts to curb anti-national activities online.