Both sides agree to withdraw cases and petitions after a violent altercation in court last December
Lawyers staged a protest on MA Jinnah Road on Tuesday over the registration of FIR against lawyers who allegedly attacked YouTuber Rajab Butt on the city court premises on Monday. Photo: Express
Negotiations between accused YouTuber Rajab Butt’s lawyer, Advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq, and the Karachi legal fraternity have been successful, with both sides agreeing to withdraw cases and petitions filed against each other.
Barrister Ashfaq, the defense lawyer, had filed a case against the lawyers at the Municipal Court police station and submitted a petition to the Sindh Bar Council. In response, lawyers protested and went on strike.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Karachi City Court at the Bar Association office on Thursday, Advocate 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 problems amicably.
Read: Rajab Butt case: High Court Bar condemns FIR against lawyers
“Whether it was lawyer Riaz Solangi or his client, no conditions were imposed on either party and the matter was successfully resolved,” he said. He credited Karachi Bar Association President Amir Waraich for playing a very important role in resolving the matter.
Waraich said the incident had affected the reputation of the Karachi Bar and emphasized that every nationality, religion and sect is respected within the Bar. “Lawyers can practice in religious matters, but they should not become parties. The Karachi Bar Association believes in the supremacy of law, and that is why it was attacked,” he said.
He added that the incident was an attempt to tarnish the reputation of Karachi Bar Association lawyers among the public. “Today both sides have been given free rein. There was no pressure from the Bar and we will never support violence. If you have any problem, come to the Bar; lawyers are asked to respect anyone who comes to court.”
The development follows an incident on December 29, 2025 in which a verbal altercation between accused Rajab Butt and lawyer Riaz Solangi, and Fatah’s lawyer escalated into a physical confrontation. The YouTuber was attacked after a hearing in a case against him for allegedly insulting Islamic symbols.
Case history
Rajab Butt has been under scrutiny for blasphemy-related allegations since earlier this year after launching a perfume branded “295”, a reference to Section 295 of Pakistan’s blasphemy law.
Read more: Punjab Bar Council suspends lawyer representing Faiz Hameed and Rajab Butt for ‘professional misconduct’
The launch sparked backlash and accusations that the brand was flouting the law.
An FIR was later registered against him under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and Section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with insult to religious beliefs.
In March 2025, Butt posted an apology video from Masjid-e-Haram in Mecca while performing Umrah. He said he had not done anything intentionally and asked people to “cleanse their hearts” towards him.
He said the video linked to the controversy had been misinterpreted, claimed a word had been removed and announced the suspension of the perfume. He also appealed to religious scholars, the Punjab government and the Pakistan Army to reconsider the charges.
The FIR was lodged by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan leader Haider Ali Shah Gillani. If convicted, Butt could face up to 10 years in prison on the charges.
