• Rajab Butt faces case registered against him at Hyderi Police Station.
• Assault by lawyers leave YouTuber with torn shirt, bloodied mouth.
• Lawyers say Butt spoke against them in a vlog after last appearance.

KARACHI: YouTuber Rajab Butt was assaulted following an appearance at an additional district and sessions court in Karachi in a case related to controversial statement.

Appearing before the city court along with TikToker Nadeem Mubarak, alias Naniwaala, in relation to a bail plea, Butt was subjected to assault by lawyers, which left him with a bloodied mouth and torn shirt.

The lawyers claimed that the YouTuber had made “derogatory remarks” against them in a vlog after his previous appearance before the court, where he said that the one who filed a case against me “does not seem like a lawyer”.

Butt has been named in a case registered against him at the Hyderi Police Station by Advocate Riaz Ali Solangi related to controversial remarks.

Confirming the incident, the YouTuber’s counsel Mian Ali Ashfaq said that some lawyers had attacked his client and continued to beat him and injured him within the court premises.

“This is an unfortunate thing that has no place in any educated society,” he said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, during the hearing today, the court extended Butt’s interim bail till January 13, 2026 and adjourned the case over his bail plea till the same date.

Apart from the controversial speech case, Butt is also booked in another case, facing charges of promoting gambling and betting applications.

Earlier this month, the YouTuber, along with TikToker Naniwala secured a transit bail from the Islamabad High Court after their return to the country from the UK, from where the former was deported as his visa was revoked.

The duo then also got interim bail from a sessions court in Lahore on December 15.

China has announced a major mobilisation of its armed forces, including army, navy, air force and rocket units, around Taiwan for live-fire military drills after Taiwan’s $11 billion arms deal with the United States.

China says that the drills, named “Justice Mission-2025,” are a serious warning to all the separatist forces and external forces meddling in the island’s internal affairs.

The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command said that the exercises would test the combat readiness of its troops and simulate the “blockade and control of major ports and critical areas.”

It added: “With vessels and aircraft approaching Taiwan Island in close proximity from different directions, troops of multiple services engage in joint assaults to test their joint operations capabilities.”

Despite condemnation from the Taiwanese authorities, the Chinese military considers it a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity.

The U.S. has yet to respond to the war games; however, Taiwan’s defence ministry condemned the drills and accused China of escalating tensions.

They also announced counter-drills by its own forces to “defend democracy and freedom”.

China considers Taiwan as its province and is preparing to annex it, with the U.S. intelligence reports suggesting that China might invade the island by 2027.

However, China has repeatedly urged Taiwan (formal name: Republic of China) to accept a peaceful reunification but Taiwan rejects the offer and is boosting its defences to prepare for a possible invasion. 

The equity market rose on Monday as optimism over a prospective United Arab Emirates (UAE) investment in Fauji Foundation and a $1 billion rollover buoyed risk appetite and drove the bourse to a new all-time intraday high.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 Index climbed to an intraday high of 174,411.72, gaining 2,010.99 points, or 1.17%, and recorded a low of 173,200.41, reflecting a gain of 799.68 points, or 0.46%.

“Bullish activity witnessed as investors eye UAE $1 billion rollover liability set to end, acquiring shareholding in Fauji Foundation,” said Ahsan Mehanti, Managing Director and CEO of Arif Habib Commodities.

“Government deliberation on privatisation of ailing SOEs [state-owned enterprises], rupee stability and surging global crude oil prices played a catalyst role in bullish activity at PSX,” he added.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar said on Saturday that the UAE is set to acquire shares in the Fauji Foundation as part of ongoing economic cooperation, adding that the transaction is expected to help settle a $1 billion liability while a further $2 billion loan could be rolled over.

He said the understanding followed the UAE president’s visit and expressed hope the share acquisition would be completed by March 31, 2026; Islamabad is also seeking to persuade the UAE to reinvest $2 billion due in January.

“The recent comment by Ishaq Dar on the potential acquisition of Fauji Group shares by the UAE has sparked a rally in Fauji Group companies, driving the market upwards predominantly today,” said independent investment and economic analyst AAH Soomro. He further added: “Overall bullishness continues.”

On Friday, the benchmark KSE-100 Index closed higher by 1,570.51 points, or 0.92%, to 172,400.73 from 170,830.22, after trading between a high of 172,582.96 and a low of 171,146.14.