Both sides agree to withdraw cases and petitions after a heated argument in court last December
Lawyers stage protests on MA Jinnah Road on Tuesday over registration of FIR against lawyers who allegedly attacked YouTuber Rajab Butt in the district court premises on Monday. Photo: Express
Negotiations between accused YouTuber Rajab Butt’s lawyer Barrister Mian Ali Ashfaq and Karachi’s legal community have been successful, with both parties agreeing to withdraw cases and petitions filed against each other.
Barrister Ashfaq, the defense lawyer, had filed a case against the lawyers at the district court police station and submitted a petition to the Sindh Bar Council. In response, the lawyers protested and went on strike.
Addressing a joint press conference in the Karachi City Court at the Bar Association office on Thursday, Barrister Ashfaq said that detailed discussions were held between the parties. The motivations behind the cases filed were reviewed and the circumstances created by the incident were examined. It was decided to resolve all issues amicably.
Read: Rajab Butt case: High Court Bar condemns FIR against lawyers
“Whether the matter concerned lawyer Riaz Solangi or his client, no conditions were imposed on either side and the matter has been successfully resolved,” he said. He credited the President of Karachi Bar Association, Amir Waraich, for playing a very important role in solving the case.
Waraich said the incident had affected the reputation of the Karachi Bar and stressed that every nationality, religion and sect is respected within the legal profession. “Lawyers can practice in religious matters but they should not become parties themselves. The Karachi Bar believes in the rule of law and that is why it was targeted,” he said.
He added that the incident was an attempt to tarnish the reputation of Karachi Bar lawyers among the public. “Today, both parties have been given a free hand. There was no pressure from the Advocate, and we will never support violence. If you have a problem, come to the Advocate; lawyers are asked to respect anyone who comes to court.”
The development follows an incident on December 29, 2025, where a verbal altercation between accused Rajab Butt and lawyer Riaz Solangi and Fatah Advocate escalated into a physical confrontation. The YouTuber was assaulted after a hearing in a case against him for allegedly insulting Islamic symbols.
Case history
Rajab Butt has been under scrutiny over blasphemy-related allegations since earlier this year after launching a perfume labeled “295”, a reference to Section 295 of Pakistan’s blasphemy law.
Read more: Punjab Bar suspends lawyer representing Faiz Hameed, Rajab Butt for ‘professional misconduct’
The launch sparked backlash and accusations that the branding flouted the law.
An FIR was later registered against him under the Electronic Crime Prevention Act and Section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with offending religious beliefs.
In March 2025, Butt released an apology video from the Masjid-e-Haram in Mecca while performing Umrah. He said he had done nothing on purpose and asked people to “purify your hearts” before him.
He said the video linked to the controversy had been misunderstood, claimed a word had been edited and announced the discontinuation of the perfume. He also appealed to religious scholars, the Punjab government and the Pakistan Army to reconsider the charges.
The FIR was filed by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan leader Haider Ali Shah Gillani. If convicted, Butt could face up to 10 years in prison on the charges.
