KARACHI: Chaos erupted inside the Karachi City Court on Monday when YouTuber Rajab Butt was physically attacked by a group of lawyers during the hearing of a case registered against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
Rajab Butt appeared before the Sessions Court Central after the expiry of his interim bail granted on December 20. During the hearing, a scuffle broke out, and Butt was assaulted, disrupting the court proceedings.
Lawyer Alleges Unprofessional Conduct
Butt’s lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, told social media platform X that some lawyers attacked his client in the presence of the court staff. He added that despite repeated efforts to stop the violence, the assault continued, describing the act as unprofessional and unacceptable behavior by members of the legal fraternity.
According to Ashfaq, taking the law into one’s own hands damages the reputation of lawyers in the country. He warned that repeated attacks on citizens in courtrooms could severely erode public trust in the legal profession. He described the incident as regrettable, emphasizing that such conduct has no place in a civilized society.
Video Evidence Emerges
Following the incident, a video surfaced showing Rajab Butt walking through a crowd with a torn shirt, while another clip showed him surrounded by lawyers chanting slogans of “Karachi Bar Zindabad”. The group included the plaintiff Riaz Solangi, who was seen in the video claiming that Butt had allegedly used offensive language against the lawyers.
Another individual in the video stated that the incident was a consequence of Butt’s disrespectful remarks towards lawyers, warning that anyone speaking against lawyers could face similar treatment. TikToker Nadeem Mubarak, also known as Nani Wala, was present at the scene and appeared in one of the videos.
Background of the Case
Both Rajab Butt and Nadeem Mubarak face multiple legal cases and had returned to Pakistan from London on December 10, where the Islamabad High Court had granted their families a 10-day protective bail. In the hearing on Monday, the Sessions Court extended Rajab Butt’s interim bail until January 13.
The case was initially filed by Riaz Solangi in January at Hyderi Market Police Station under Section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code. According to the FIR, the plaintiff claimed to have seen a viral video of Butt allegedly performing prayers with music in December 2024.
The FIR was registered following a court order under Section 22-A, directing the SHO to initiate proceedings. After the video went viral, Rajab Butt released three videos on his Facebook page featuring religious scholars from different sects, in which he apologized and expressed regret if his unintentional actions had hurt anyone’s sentiments.