A court in Lahore has directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to take legal action against YouTuber Rajab Butt over allegations of blasphemy.

 

Additional Sessions Judge Shafqat Shehbaz Raja issued a written verdict on a petition filed by the complainant Shehzada Adnan.

 

According to the written decision, the complainant had submitted an application seeking the registration of a case over a blasphemy-related matter. The court stated that the petitioner informed them that the NCCIA had failed to act upon his application.

 

After hearing all arguments and reviewing the evidence, the court issued a written verdict, directing the NCCIA to proceed with legal action against YouTuber Rajab Butt in accordance with the law. The complainant had filed the petition in July, requesting legal proceedings against Rajab Butt.

 

Earlier in March, a case had already been registered against the YouTuber under cybercrime laws.

 

In that case, Rajab Butt was accused of “hurting religious sentiments” during the launch of his perfume brand and allegedly mocking Pakistan's blasphemy laws. Following the registration of the case, Rajab Butt announced the closure of his perfume brand and claimed that he did not mean to hurt anyone’s feelings, as he himself is a Muslim. He then left the country for a period of time.

 

Now, the court has officially ordered legal proceedings against him.

 

Rajab Butt has also been summoned by the NCCIA in relation to promoting a gambling application. He is accused of advertising gambling apps on social media, similar to fellow YouTuber Ducky Bhai.

 

A clip from Rajab’s vlog is also circulating on social media in which his mother calls him and can be heard saying, “We have received a notice,” to which he responds, “What notice?” to which a male voice confirms that it is from NCCIA.

 

In his video, he said this is the first notice he has received from NCCIA and he respects the law and his legal team will handle the response.