Beloved DJ Butt in row with PTI over unpaid bill from dharna
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LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's celebrated DJ Butt is threatening to take legal action against the party over non-payment of his services during its protracted sit-ins last year in the capital.
In an email written by him and obtained by DawnNews, his agreement with the party puts the cost for his services at a whopping Rs130 million — brought down to Rs110 million after a 'concession'.
Butt claimed that the party still owes him Rs50 million after Rs60 million were paid during the sit-in. He added that he has been waiting for payment for around seven months and may take legal action if he does not receive payment soon.
Ironically, it was reported last year that DJ Butt refused to charge PTI for his services.
Also read: The DJ at D-chowk
“As a sound engineer, I was charging Rs35,000 per day until August 30. Since the clashes between police and PTI and Pakistan Awaami Tehreek workers, I refused to charge PTI anymore,” Butt had said.
“Do you know why? It is because I am now part of the sit-in like any other supporter,” he had declared.
He had explained that it is his association with PTI that shot him to fame and because of this he does not want to charge PTI for his services.
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| DJ Butt pictured during the Islamabad protests spearheaded by the PTI last year — Photo by Irfan Haider |
Muhammad Asif, popularly known as DJ Butt, has been a permanent feature at PTI rallies and major party events. But the disc jockey soared to fame for his music and stage lighting during the PTI's months-long sit-in in Islamabad last year.
The sound engineer provided sound systems, lights, generators and back-up generators and blared party songs that at times interrupted Khan's speech.
Take a look: DJ Butt — the unlikely bridge between two containers
“No one gives me any cues. It’s my call and I know when to start or stop the music. Speakers don’t know when they will be cut off during their speech at any given point,” Butt had said in an earlier interview.
He had also said: “I make enough money from PTI jalsas — so much that I don’t need to play anywhere else.”
PTI responds
In response to Butt's allegations, the PTI has claimed that the bill is not as high as the DJ claims, and that a two-member committee is probing into the matter.
Naeemul Haq, Chief of Staff to PTI chairman Imran Khan, has called DJ Butt to Islamabad for a meeting and said that the matter will be resolved soon.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (47) Closed
Jul 06, 2015 05:47pm
$$$ Money talks $$$$
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Jul 06, 2015 05:51pm
Is this Naya Pakistan? Everyday there is something really alarming about PTI and to be honest I am running out of justifications and reasons to give to my kids that why we have been supporting the party. They have become another run of the mill politicians so they should stop portraying themselves as saints.
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Jul 06, 2015 05:54pm
Oh,,the irony of it all..! Tabdeeli ...umm... hasn't been paid for in full.
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Jul 06, 2015 05:59pm
With the law and order situation in KPK, Imran Khan's stand about his nephew's problems in Lahore and now this. It seems there was no change, he is the same arrogant Imran Khan we know from his cricketing days.
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Jul 06, 2015 06:13pm
@Naseer For your info, the law and order situation in KP has improved manifold in the PTI govt
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Jul 06, 2015 06:15pm
ok, is FBR looking in this? or oh well, no, people who head FBR are one who launched him.
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Jul 06, 2015 06:19pm
Dharna has cost Pakistani nation hundereds of billions to this date but the irony is that the pti leadership have different approach when it comes to their own money. it is very shameful that the man behind pulling young crowd at dharna nights still struggling for justice and begging for his outstandind dues.
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Jul 06, 2015 06:22pm
Ruined
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Jul 06, 2015 06:35pm
Pakistani politics! No change in attitudes.
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Jul 06, 2015 06:45pm
PTI cannot verify and pay its own bills on time. Do you think this party is competent to run KPK leave alone Pakistan?
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Jul 06, 2015 06:49pm
What degree has he in sound engineering by the way? and what income tax does he pay after charging so much bucks?
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Jul 06, 2015 06:51pm
110 million on music...what a waste!
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Jul 06, 2015 06:55pm
Another push from PLMN!
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Jul 06, 2015 07:15pm
Well done IK - this is certainly a New Pakistan. a DJ making 35000 a day lighting up your Jalsas whereas a poor labourer working whole day makes 350 Rupees. Really message are you giving out? spend extravagantly while being an indebted nation? With 110 Million how many schools could be built OR how many mouths could be fed. Seriously what a disappointment PTI turned out to be.
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Jul 06, 2015 07:19pm
Do not pay money to the service provider---Tabdeeli agayee hay !!! shameful act...guess IK was not satisfied with his performance beacuse it did not bring tabdeeli...so no payment
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Jul 06, 2015 07:51pm
Rs. 60 million already paid!! I could have done the same for PTI for free. And yes I am a 'sound engineer' too.
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Jul 06, 2015 07:53pm
Change is not coming! It already has come.
Not paying debts is a kind of change ;-)
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Jul 06, 2015 08:02pm
Long Live IK Long Live PTI and THE DJ !!
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Jul 06, 2015 08:02pm
Agreement was payment will be made after taking oath of the Prime Minister.
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Jul 06, 2015 08:04pm
My God. Just imagine what would be the total cost of the 126 days dharna! What a waste, what a shame! There should be an inquiry into the total expenditures of dharna and also where this huge amount came from. I am sure my justice loving friends of PTI will support my demand.
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Jul 06, 2015 08:11pm
Aside from the outstanding amount, it is worth knowing where did the 60 Million came from?
It is not chump change
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Jul 06, 2015 08:18pm
I think DJ has been brought by PML-N to give another topic for discussion to Pervaz Rashid
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Jul 06, 2015 08:23pm
His bill was Rs. 11,00,00,000 (11 crore). He has already been paid six crore. He is still claiming 5 crore.
It seems Mr. DJ is being greedy and taking advantage. Every body knows what he did for PTI. Is 6 crores already paid to him not enough? I think it is. What is his qualification?
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Jul 06, 2015 08:26pm
so the slogan by PTI of 'Justice' is not fulfilled. so can we expect them to fulfil or provide justice to ordinary people?
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Jul 06, 2015 08:48pm
@Hakim Hakim ji Singers are charging rupees 14 lakhs for two hours and film actors were paid IRs r crore for 20 minutes during world kabaddi cup by Indian Panjab Govt and this guys bill includes lighting, generators, back up generators etc.
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Jul 06, 2015 09:05pm
Do not you see all what is going on against corruption? It is only because of PTI and Dharna. Otherwise Zardari and his two Sharif brothers would have continued to loot our beloved country. Open your eyes and minds. The cost of even billions is worth of it, if the system is changed
Inshallah change will come.
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Jul 06, 2015 09:53pm
The supporters of PTI disappointed once again. They should look their hard earned money is wasted on unnecessarily long dharna which has to come to an abrupt end through mukmuka with NS government. Everything said earlier has been taken back by mighty U-turn khan and that's such a grave dishonesty with his supporters. He got married in the midst of massive chaos heightened by his own ego and country lost billions in economy. I am surprised why people have high hopes from IK? he and democracy are opposite poles. He is the only one known as the worst of all time dictator on cricket grounds and that's his attitude towards PTI and politics too, he can never change.
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Jul 06, 2015 10:08pm
Imran Khan is just another politician who wants to be in power by hook or by crook.
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Jul 06, 2015 10:11pm
Javeria Hashmi was right all along. PTI needs to apologize to Hashmi Sahab and the nation for their drama.
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Jul 06, 2015 10:24pm
wow. How much was paid for the Container? Were the chairs, food and transport free or paid? cost must be running into billions if you add the expenses of private jet flights and public gatherings in various cities. Really a new way of protests for Naya Pakistan. Keep it up.
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Jul 06, 2015 10:36pm
Musical chair party for 126 days cost Rs130 million so roughly Rs One million per day.I personally could not digest it.Really we spend so lavishly on people's donation and zakat.
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Jul 06, 2015 10:42pm
Shouldn't PTI have invested all this amount into healthcare and education of KPK? Just sayin. And no, 14 crores for entertainment of your protesters doesn't make any logical, economical or moral sense. Where did all this money even come from?
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Jul 06, 2015 10:53pm
Wow this whopping 11 CRORES just for the entertainment? The Change is imminent indeed.
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Jul 06, 2015 11:39pm
PTI haters waiting for these small issues to assail PTI .... Its not so big issue to spot pti incompetent
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Jul 06, 2015 11:50pm
So he said that his rate is PKR35000 per day, multiply that with four months (120 days) the figure comes to 4.2 million PKR.
How did it become 50 million PKR???
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Jul 07, 2015 12:17am
How expensive this DJ is!
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Jul 07, 2015 01:00am
Well I think the bill being asked is too much. What sound engineering degree he holds. I can also run a microphone and loud speakers. Rather every molvi sab in mosque is sound engineer. He has already been heavily paid. Pti is rightly not paying him anymore. And as a pakistani he is blackmailing to grab huge money. I m with pti.
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Jul 07, 2015 01:04am
He thinks he has hit a Gold mine.
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Jul 07, 2015 01:06am
@Zubair Actually he has to survive in Lahore so has to listen his present masters there.
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Jul 07, 2015 01:37am
@Zia ur Rehman Its the other way around, since IK has taken extreme position, NS is left with no choice but to beg PPP for support and to ignore their corruption cases. I wish IK had shown flexibility and assured PMLN of his support publicly.
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Jul 07, 2015 01:42am
@MAlvi seriously? asking for his qualification? is this how you do business? promise one price and then when it is time for payment you start questioning the price and qualification? PTI agreed upon Rs 35,000 per day and owe every paee of what promised. Dishonesty runs in some peoples blood.
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Jul 07, 2015 01:45am
Easy money...easy comes ... easy goes...other people's money and zakat...thrown like anything ...if this much cost for DJ, shall we multiply it by 100, 1000 or ??? Why IK and PTI does not protest to bring change in accountability for party funds? Today's politicians seems to mastered the art of living lavishly on government money, foreign aid and if you are not in so much power, so there are die hard supports .... simple equation. IK teaches ethics to everyone, will he dare to publish audited expenses of PTI and Dharna...?? People say he is the most honest of all, I think he can't afford this much honesty!!!
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Jul 07, 2015 02:24am
Tabdeli aa nahi rahi "Tabdeli aa gai hai"
Where is all this funding coming from PTI? This party is completely exposed. Wait for the humiliation PTI will receive in the next general election.
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Jul 07, 2015 02:45am
130 million, wow I should have moved to this profession... but too late now
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Jul 07, 2015 03:41am
didnt know Djs can earn this much.
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Jul 07, 2015 06:40am
what a shame. when 1 million IDPies were in KPK, PTI was spending lavishly on dhurna. Weldon IK.
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Jul 07, 2015 07:53am
@MAlvi : why blaming DJ guy? do you think PTI dnt have money to pay his dues ? If IK is not able to fulfill his words for DJ den how come he keep his words for Pakistani people. Lol
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