Non-bailable arrest warrants issued for DJ Butt in Islamabad

Published August 21, 2015
DJ Butt was also arrested earlier in September during PTI's sit-in last year in relation with the same case. — Photo by Shakeel Qarar
DJ Butt was also arrested earlier in September during PTI's sit-in last year in relation with the same case. — Photo by Shakeel Qarar

ISLAMABAD: A local court here on Friday issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of DJ Butt, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) former music guru, after hearing a case related to the violation of a capital administration ban on the use of loudspeakers during last year's sit-ins.

Assistant Commissioner Islamabad Waqas Rasheed heard a case against DJ Butt relating to the violation of Section 144 of the criminal procedure code (CrPC) and the Amplifier Act which he was accused of committing during PTI's 126-day sit-in last year.

During today's hearing, the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for DJ Butt after his failure to appear before it and directed Station House Officer (SHO) Secretariat to arrest Butt and present him before the court on the next hearing of the case which was adjourned until September 3.

DJ Butt was also arrested earlier in September 2014 during PTI's sit-in in Islamabad in relation with the same case.

Read: DJ Butt behind bars, but the show must go on

Inspector General Tahir Alam Khan had told Dawn at the time,“(DJ Butt) was arrested for violation of Section 144 (entitled: ‘Power to issue order absolute at once in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger’),” in connection with a case registered at the Secretariat police station under section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), entitled ‘Disobedience to order, duly promulgated by public servant’.

He was subsequently released on orders of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Also read: IHC grants bail to 650 people held for violating Section 144

Section 144 had been imposed in the city at that time, which bars the use of loudspeakers and political gatherings.

The inspector general said DJ Butt had been asked to keep the volume down so that sound does not carry to nearby sectors.

However, DJ Butt’s sound system could be heard as far as sector F-6 and F-7, he said at the time.

Also read: DJ Butt comes out against ‘his party’ over non-payment

Muhammad Asif, popularly known as DJ Butt, has been a prominent 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.

DJ Butt, who played background music and party songs during the PTI's protracted sit-in in Islamabad’s D Chowk and public meetings of the PTI, was last month served a tax notice of Rs17 million by Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA).

Know more: DJ Butt served tax notice for Rs17 million

Last week, the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered PRA to refrain from demanding any tax from the disc jockey until September 17, after taking into account the stance of the defendant.

Also read: LHC orders Punjab Revenue Authority to exempt DJ Butt from tax payment

DJ Butt had maintained in his application to the LHC that he did not owe any taxes to the state but he was sent a notice anyway, obligating him to pay Rs17 million in taxes.

Also last week, DJ Butt after a meeting with PTI officials, agreed to a full and final settlement of all unpaid dues at Rs2.5 million.

Earlier in July, Butt had found himself in a row against his party over non-payment of his services during its sit-ins last year in the capital.

Read: DJ Butt settles final payment of dues with PTI at Rs2.5 million

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