ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday granted a 10-day protective bail to YouTuber Rajab Butt and TikToker Nadeem Mubarak, widely known as Nani Wala, after they surrendered before the court in connection with several cases involving gambling apps, cybercrime violations and other allegations.
Justice Raja Inam Ameen Minhas approved the relief after both social media influencers appeared before the IHC soon after arriving in Pakistan from the United Kingdom.
This development follows the court’s earlier decision to grant them protective bail until December 10, based on a petition filed by their relatives to ensure the two would not be arrested upon landing in Islamabad.
Their counsel had argued that Butt and Mubarak had been abroad for months and feared immediate arrest at Islamabad International Airport, while several cases had been registered against them by the FIA and other departments. The lawyer maintained that the petitioners were legally entitled to seek protective relief before any arrest.
After hearing the arguments, the court had granted one-day protective bail and instructed authorities not to arrest the duo at the airport. It also directed both influencers to appear before the IHC the next day so that proceedings in pending cases could continue.
Reports had surfaced claiming that Butt was deported from the UK after his visa was revoked. However, his lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, denied the reports on platform X, saying Butt was returning voluntarily and was not deported.
According to official documents, both influencers are nominated in several FIRs under various cybercrime offences, including promoting gambling applications, misuse of digital platforms and online harassment. Their prolonged stay abroad had stalled progress in the investigations.
In September, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency booked Butt for allegedly promoting online gambling apps. Nadeem Mubarak faced similar charges and was also arrested in September for using a fake car registration number, ‘IK-804’, reportedly linked to imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan’s prison number.
Earlier this year in March, Butt was also charged under blasphemy and cybercrime laws after his perfume brand launch—named “295”—sparked controversy for allegedly mocking Pakistan’s blasphemy legislation.
In a separate case last December, Butt was arrested for illegally keeping a lion cub and weapons at his home. He later pleaded guilty to owning the undocumented wild animal, which he claimed to have received as a wedding gift, and avoided jail by agreeing to produce animal-rights content for one year.
