KARACHI: A sessions court on Saturday directed the SHO (station house officer) of Hyderi police station to submit a report on an application seeking an FIR against YouTuber Rajab Butt for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

Lawyer Riaz Ali Solangi had filed an application under Sections 22-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) before the additional and session judge (Central), seeking direction for the respondents, SSP complaint cell (Central), and SHO Hyderi police to record his statement and lodge an FIR against the YouTuber.

On Saturday, the court directed the SHO to submit a report on the application until Jan 13, 2025.

“You [the SHO] are there required to examine/ enquire the applicant in accordance with law and submit inquiry report to this court on or before 13.01.2025 without fail,” the order said.

In his application, the advocate Solangi submitted that on Dec 24, he had watched a viral video of the YouTuber in which he was allegedly “disrespecting” prayer (Namaz) that hurt the sentiments of Muslims.

The applicant claimed that in the “controversial” video, the YouTuber was performing prayer while the background music was playing, which left him feeling grieved and angry. He requested the concerned authorities to take legal action against the accused.

“Due to this action, many people have suffered significant emotional distress”, the applicant claimed and also requested that the court direct the concerned authority to remove the alleged video from social media platforms.

“The proposed accused Rajab Butt with malafide intentions created this video and due to which the applicant and other Muslims persons are still suffering from many problems, mental torture and agony.”

The applicant claimed that he had first approached the concerned police station; however, the police failed to register his complaint against the said person.

He prayed before the court to direct the SSP complaint to take strict action against the YouTuber and record his (applicant) statement under 154 of the CrPC and lodged FIR as per the statement.

Meanwhile, after the video went viral on social media, Mr Butt posted a video on his official Facebook page two days ago in which he was seen sitting with scholars from different sects. In the three-part videos, he had issued an apology, stating that if anyone’s feelings were hurt by his unintentional actions, he deeply regretted that.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2024