KARACHI: The issue of the alleged physical assault on YouTuber Rajab Butt by some lawyers on the City Courts premises appeared to have been settled as lawyers from both sides on Thursday agreed to withdraw the cases, and also the applications filed before different bar bodies, against each other.

The saga began when the YouTuber was allegedly assau­lted on Dec 29, 2025, while appearing for the hearing of his bail plea in a case registered against him for allegedly hurting people’s religious sentiments.

The violent incident also drew a reaction from Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar, who termed the matter unfortunate and regrettable, and told the media that it was not a good thing for society that lawyers, instead of protecting the law, had taken the law into their own hands.

In response to the assault, Butt’s counsel, Mian Ali Ashfaq, registered a case against Advocate Riaz Ali Solangi, Advocate Abdul Fatah and 15 to 20 other lawyers under Sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 382 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 337-A (punishment for shajjah) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Meanwhile, on a request by the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) to the Punjab Bar Council (PBC) to take action against counsel Mian Ashfaq, the council on Jan 1 suspended his licence to practice and referred the matter to its disciplinary committee.

Rivals undertake to withdraw cases, complaints against each other

On Thursday, Mian Ashfaq visited the KBA on its request and held a press conference, flanked by KBA president Aamir Nawaz Warraich, general secretary Rehman Korai, senior counsel Rehan Aziz, advocate Solangi — the complainant in the case pertaining to hurting religious sentiments against the YouTuber — and advocate Fatah, in the committee room of the KBA office.

After holding talks in a separate room, Mian Ashfaq told the media that, after detailed discussions on all matters that arose after the incident, both parties had agreed — without any conditions imposed on either side — to withdraw the cases registered against each other, without specifying whether the case against Butt for allegedly hurting religious sentiments would also be withdrawn.

In his talk, he also praised the KBA for providing a platform to resolve the issue between the two sides.

Speaking to the media, Mr Warraich said the incident had tarnished the reputation of the legal community.

He urged lawyers to confine themselves to their role as counsel in matters relating to religion rather than becoming complainants, and stressed that they should not be involved in assaults.

He added that every litigant who approaches the courts must be treated with respect.

It is pertinent to mention here that Butt is required to appear before the court in Karachi on Jan 13, in the case pertaining to allegedly hurting religious sentiments, for confirmation of his interim bail or otherwise.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2026