YouTube personality Rajab Butt, who has a massive fan following on social media, has once again come under public scrutiny—this time for alleged involvement in a criminal case involving rape, blackmail, and illegal confinement.
An FIR has been lodged at Lahore’s Nawab Town Police Station naming five individuals, including Rajab Butt, his cousin Salman Haider, Jawad Haider, Jahangir Butt, and fellow YouTuber Maan Dogar. The case stems from grave allegations made by a female social media activist, Ayesha Sharafat, who claims she was drugged, assaulted, blackmailed, and later illegally confined by the accused.
The Allegations: What Happened?
According to the FIR, the complainant stated that she initially befriended Salman Haider through social media. Their connection involved several public meetups before Haider invited her to his residence in Bahria Orchard on August 16, 2024. Ayesha claimed she trusted him and accepted the invitation. Once there, Haider offered her a juice, which she believes was laced with an intoxicating substance. After consuming the drink, she lost consciousness and later found her shirt buttons open, leading her to suspect that she had been sexually assaulted.
In the days that followed, Ayesha refrained from speaking out due to fear of social backlash. However, the situation escalated when Salman Haider used explicit video footage—reportedly recorded without her consent—to blackmail her. Matters worsened when he sent the footage to her sister, Palwasha. The two women then decided to confront Salman in person, going to his residence to demand the deletion of the videos.
During the confrontation, things took a serious turn. Rajab Butt, Maan Dogar, Jawad Haider, and Jahangir Butt were present at the house. Ayesha claimed that the men forcibly locked both sisters in a room, took their mobile phones, reset the devices, and issued threats before ultimately throwing them out of the premises. Salman Haider has been named as the primary accused, while Rajab Butt and the others are identified as accomplices in the FIR.
FIR Details & Police Response
The charges registered include rape (Section 376), blackmail, criminal intimidation, and unlawful confinement under various provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code. Police have confirmed that a criminal case is officially underway, and investigations have begun to verify the claims and establish the involvement of each named suspect.
This isn’t the first time Rajab Butt has landed in controversy. In May 2024, Rajab Butt was seen in a viral video allegedly assaulting a young man alongside his associates. While a legal complaint had been filed at Satu Katla Police Station, the matter was later settled after the victim accepted Butt’s public apology. Earlier this year, he faced significant backlash after launching a perfume branded “295,” a name perceived by many religious groups as blasphemous. Though he later issued a statement calling the controversy a misunderstanding and reaffirmed his respect for Islamic values, the incident added to a growing list of public grievances. He is also reportedly under investigation for promoting indecency and allegedly offending public sentiments through his online content.
Despite the seriousness of the current allegations and the registration of the FIR, no arrests have been made so far. Law enforcement officials have stated that the case is under active investigation and that legal action will follow based on the findings and evidence collected during the inquiry.
This is a developing story.
News Sources: The News, The Nation, and Samaa.
