SHC grants bail to YouTuber Rajab Butt

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday granted bail to YouTuber Rajab Butt after a lower court revoked his earlier relief, raising the risk of his arrest.

Butt appeared before the high court alongside his counsel, Mian Ali Ashfaq Ali, which granted him bail.

A sessions court had earlier cancelled his bail after rejecting his request for exemption from personal appearance, according to court proceedings, exposing him to possible arrest before he sought fresh relief.

It was not immediately clear what charges the case relates to, and there was no immediate comment from prosecutors.

In December last year, Butt was assaulted by a group of lawyers at Karachi’s City Court shortly after appearing in connection with a blasphemy-related case.

The incident occurred after a hearing before an additional district and sessions judge, who had adjourned Butt’s bail application without issuing a formal order. Tensions escalated on the court premises, culminating in a physical attack on the YouTuber.

A police case was later registered against several lawyers, including Riaz Ali Solangi and Abdul Fatah Chandio, along with dozens of unidentified individuals, on charges including rioting, criminal intimidation and assault.

Butt was accompanied at the time by fellow content creator Nadeem Mubarak, also known as Nani Wala.