Popular YouTuber Rajab Butt was physically assaulted by a group of lawyers at Karachi City Court on Monday during a hearing related to allegations of hurting religious sentiments. The violent incident, which occurred on the court premises, has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious concerns about security within judicial buildings.
Butt appeared before the sessions court after his interim bail expired, which had been granted on December 20. As he entered the courthouse, an exchange of words with several lawyers quickly escalated into violence. Eyewitnesses reported that despite his legal team’s efforts to protect him, the assault continued, leaving Butt with injuries to his jaw and mouth that caused visible bleeding. His shirt was torn during the altercation.
His defense counsel, Mian Ali Ashfaq, strongly condemned the attack, calling it unprofessional conduct that weakens the reputation of the legal profession. He emphasized that lawyers taking the law into their own hands has no place in an educated society and warned that such behavior would lead to a continuous decline in respect for the legal community.
Videos circulating on social media showed Butt moving through a crowd in his torn clothing, while another clip featured him walking with lawyers chanting slogans. Among them was Riaz Solangi, the complainant who filed the original case against Butt, claiming the YouTuber had used inappropriate words about lawyers in a previous video.
The lawyers involved justified their actions, stating they attacked Butt over his remarks about the legal community. Following the incident, the court extended Butt’s interim bail until January 13. The case was registered under Section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, which relates to deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings, carrying a potential sentence of up to ten years if convicted.
The incident has triggered intense debate online about accountability and the need for improved security protocols within court premises to ensure the safety of all individuals.
