Rajab Butt gets protective bail in 'Namaz disrespecting' case

The Lahore High Court (LHC) granted a seven-day protective bail to prominent YouTuber Rajab Butt on Tuesday, following the registration of a case against him in Karachi for allegedly showing disrespect towards Namaz in one of his videos.

Justice Farooq Haider of the LHC approved the bail after Butt submitted a petition seeking protection from arrest. The petition highlighted the risk of his arrest upon entering Karachi due to the allegations of disrespecting the prayer (Namaz).

Butt, accompanied by his legal representatives, appeared before the Lahore court, expressing his intention to attend the relevant court proceedings in Karachi.

However, he voiced concerns about the possibility of being arrested before he could do so.

The Case

Rajab Butt faces allegations of disrespecting Namaz, which has incited religious sentiments.

The case was registered by the Hyderi Police Station in Karachi following directives from the court.

The complainant, Riaz Ali, stated that the court had instructed the police to take action after hearing the arguments.

The complainant emphasized the need for the police to set a precedent to deter other social media influencers from disrespecting Islamic values or figures.

In response to the backlash, Rajab Butt, who has millions of followers, issued an apology after the controversy surrounding his video.

The uproar began when a clip surfaced, depicting him in a manner perceived as disrespectful towards prayer, prompting swift reactions from netizens.

In light of the criticism, Rajab Butt also engaged with religious scholars, including Allama Makhdum Asim, Mufti Ashiq Hussain, Allama Ashraf Rabbani, and Allama Muhammad Ishtiaq Ashrafi. During these discussions, he clarified his stance and offered a sincere apology.

He further released a video in the presence of the scholars, asserting that he never intended to offend the practice of prayer and that he would refrain from such actions in the future.