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Defend Adil Raja!

PAKISTAN'S government is stepping up pressure on the UK to extradite NUJ member, former soldier and YouTuber Adil Raja - having convicted him at a court martial in his absence of inciting sedition, with a sentence of 14 years in prison. DropSite News reports that when its Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met British High Commissioner Jane Marriott in Islamabad on 4 December he said Pakistan would take in people convicted as members of “grooming gangs” in the UK - in exchange for Adil and former prime minister’s aide Mirza Shahzad Akbar.

Adil Raja on screen

Adil Raja on his YouTube channel

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Naqvi arrived in London on 6 December, representing the Pakistan Cricket Board. The Interior Ministry confirmed that the Islamabad meeting “also discussed the return of Pakistanis illegally residing in the UK”.

Extraditing Adil and Mirza would contravene international law such the European Convention on Human Rights and likely the United Nations Convention against Torture.

While seeking safety in the UK Adil has been subjected to what he describes as a SLAPP lawsuit. In October he was ordered to pay £50,000, with costs yet to be determined, in defamation damages to Rashid Naseer, who when he filed the claim was a sector commander and head of the intelligence command of the Pakistan Army’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Punjab.

Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, said: “The NUJ is very concerned at the attempt to extradite member Adil Raja and would urge the UK government to resist the relentless pressure from the government of Pakistan. We would be gravely concerned for the welfare of our member were the request to be granted. The government has a duty not to co-operate with such a clear attempt to violate the human rights of a journalist and whistle blower.”

Branch chair Pennie Quinton “urges the UK government to continue its protection of our member Adil Raja. Should Adil be forcibly returned to Pakistan his life would be in great danger.”

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