Two of Pakistan’s most prominent and controversial digital stars are heading home to face the music. Content creators Rajab Butt and Nadeem Mubarak (Nani Wala), who have been in London, are scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday night, December 9th, with plans to formally surrender to authorities on Wednesday, December 10th.
The pair secured protective bail from the Islamabad High Court (IHC), a legal move designed to ensure they are not arrested immediately upon landing at the airport. The court’s order explicitly states that the two “shall not be arrested upon landing at Islamabad Airport until he surrenders before this court on the date fixed.”
Their return marks the latest chapter in ongoing legal troubles for both influencers.
A History of Legal Entanglements
Rajab Butt and Nadeem Mubarak are no strangers to police cases and public controversy:
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- Rajab Butt’s Cases: The YouTuber was booked by Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in September 2025 for allegedly promoting online gambling apps. His legal issues extend further back. In March 2025, he faced blasphemy and cybercrime charges related to launching a perfume brand named “295,” a reference to Pakistan’s blasphemy law, which caused a major religious stir. Previously, in December 2024, he was arrested for illegally keeping a lion cub and weapons at his home, ultimately avoiding jail by agreeing to produce animal rights videos.
- Nadeem Mubarak’s Cases: Also known as “Nani Wala,” Mubarak was similarly booked by the NCCIA in September for promoting gambling apps. Separately, he was arrested that same month for displaying a fake vehicle registration plate, ‘IK-804’—reported to be the prisoner number assigned to incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Police said he could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the plate.
Voluntary Return, Not Deportation
Despite speculation, representatives for the creators insist their return is voluntary. Mian Ali Ashfaq, representing Rajab Butt, clarified on social media platform X that Butt “has not been deported from the UK and was returning to Pakistan of his own free will.” He emphasized that Butt had already surrendered before the IHC through legal representation, granting him safe passage to Islamabad.
The Bigger Picture: Pakistan’s Booming Creator Economy
The high-profile case of these creators unfolds against the backdrop of Pakistan’s rapidly growing digital content industry. According to a statement from Google’s Country Director Farhan Qureshi, the number of Pakistan-based YouTube creators earning over Rs10 million annually increased by 25% recently. Notably, over 65% of the watch time on Pakistani content comes from viewers outside the country, highlighting the global reach of its digital stars.
As Rajab Butt and Nadeem Mubarak prepare to face the courts, their case underscores the complex intersection of online fame, legal boundaries, and the significant influence wielded by top content creators in Pakistan’s evolving digital landscape.
FAQs About the Rajab Butt and Nadeem Mubarak Case
Q: Why are Rajab Butt and Nadeem Mubarak returning to Pakistan?
A: They are returning to surrender to authorities regarding ongoing legal cases against them, primarily related to the alleged promotion of online gambling apps. They have obtained protective bail to avoid arrest upon immediate arrival.
Q: What is protective bail?
A: Protective bail is a pre-arrest bail order from a court. In this case, it directs law enforcement not to arrest Butt and Mubarak at the airport. It allows them to travel and appear before the court on a specified date (December 10th) to formally surrender and seek regular bail.
Q: What are the main charges against them?
A: The most recent and prominent charges, filed in September 2025 by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), relate to allegedly promoting online gambling applications on social media. Both have faced other separate charges in the past year.
Q: Were they deported from the UK?
A: No. According to a representative for Rajab Butt, they have not been deported. Their return to Pakistan is described as a voluntary act of their own free will to address the legal cases.
Q: What is the significance of the “IK-804” number on Nadeem Mubarak’s car?
A: “IK-804” is reported to be the prisoner number assigned to former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Mubarak was arrested for displaying it as a fake registration plate on his vehicle, and police stated he could not provide a valid explanation for it.
