The trend of secretly-recorded videos, purportedly of politicians and journalists, continues to become murkier after a former soldier claimed that some ‘models and actors’ had illicit relationships with senior army officers, including the army chief.

Major Adil Raja retired, known for his pro-PTI stance, in his vlog on New Year’s eve that centred on the former army and ISI chiefs, shared four initials. He claimed they belonged to actresses and models, suggesting they were used as ‘honey-traps’ for high-ranking officers at intelligence safe houses that were bugged.

The vlog made several explosive albeit unsubstantiated and unverified claims about the top leadership of the army, including suggestions of moral turpitude. Social media users were quick to pounce on the four initials, with digital sleuths claiming that they belonged to top actors who had featured in ISPR productions or were considered pro-army.

Since it was uploaded three days ago, the vlog has received close to half a million views, over 26,000 likes and nealy 6,000 comments.

The four initials mentioned by Adil Raja are: MK, MH, SA and KK or AK. There has been some confusion whether the last set of initials are KK or AK but it has resulted in a strong reaction from the actors who share these initials.

Kubra Khan, one of the actors associated with the claims in the vlog, issued a warning to the self-styled army insider and geopolitical expert, telling him substantiate his accusations within three days.

“If not, tither retract your statement and publicly apologise or I will be suing you for defamation,” she posted on her Instagram on Monday.

The actor added that as a British citizen, she could take Raja to court in the UK. Raja fled Pakistan in last year, safely resurfacing in the UK shortly after claims that he had gone ‘missing’.

Raja came under criticism on social media as well, with users denouncing the “baseless allegations” and “character assassination”.

In response, Raja added a clarification to his vlog on YouTube claiming that there were numerous names of models, actresses, and celebrities in Pakistan and abroad, with the initials that he had mentioned. “I do not endorse any of the names of the celebrities being mentioned by anyone on any forum/social media in this regard.”

In his social media posts as well, he insisted that he did not name the actress while claiming that it was his reputation that had been harmed due to Kubra Khan’s counter allegation. Raja added that he was looking forward to the defemation suit in the UK.

Mehwish Hayat, another leading actor who shares the initial that Raja mentioned, also denounced the claims and described the accusations as “an attempt to earn cheap publicity”.

“Hope you’re enjoying your two mins of fame. Just because I am an actress doesn’t mean my name can be dragged through the mud,” she wrote.

“This just shows the sickness of our society that laps up this gutter journalism without any thought. But this stops & it stops now! I won’t allow anyone to defame my name,” Mehwish said.

Sajal Ali, who featured in ISPR’s Sinf-e-Aahan and also shares the initials, was equally despondent by the accusations.

“It is very sad that our country is becoming morally debased and ugly; character assassination is the worst form of humanity and sin,” she said in a tweet.