By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: Police have registered a formal case against popular social media personality Rajab Butt and several unnamed individuals following a violent altercation at a private café in the city’s Nawab Town area. The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged after a female complainant approached law enforcement authorities, accusing the group of physical assault, criminal intimidation, and triggering widespread panic through aerial firing.
According to the details outlined in the official complaint, the incident transpired on July 25 when the complainant visited the local establishment alongside a group of friends. What was initially intended to be a routine outing quickly turned chaotic when a heated verbal dispute broke out between the victim’s group and another party present at the venue.
The complainant alleged in her statement to the police that two men and two women from the opposing group initiated the confrontation by behaving aggressively toward one of her companions. The situation escalated rapidly as harsh exchanges transformed into physical violence. According to the FIR, members of the group physically assaulted the victims by slapping them and issuing dire threats during the escalating chaos.
The legal complaint further contains serious allegations regarding the unlawful display and use of firearms inside or around the premises. The complainant claimed that members of the group brandished weapons during the scuffle to intimidate her party. In a particularly alarming turn of events, one of the accused individuals allegedly discharged a firearm, causing immediate panic and forcing patrons and staff at the private café to scramble for safety.
Central to the complainant’s statement is the accusation that the entire altercation and subsequent display of force were executed at the direct behest of Rajab Butt. While Butt’s precise physical presence at the exact moment of the shooting remains part of the ongoing inquiry, the FIR explicitly names him as the primary instigator directing the actions of the group involved.
Following the formal filing of the complaint, officers at the Nawab Town Police Station officially initiated a comprehensive investigation into the matter. High-ranking police officials stated that law enforcement agencies are actively working to establish the complete sequence of events that led to the violence.
As part of the investigative process, police teams are gathering physical and electronic evidence from the scene, including available Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage recorded by the café’s security cameras and surrounding commercial properties. Furthermore, investigators are recording detailed statements from eyewitnesses, café staff, and other patrons who were present during the confrontation on July 25. Forensic experts may also be engaged to verify claims regarding the firing incident and retrieve any discharged bullet casings.
Authorities have emphasized that all allegations detailed in the FIR will undergo rigorous verification before formal charges are finalized or arrests are executed. Police sources maintained that the investigation aims to ensure an impartial assessment of the facts surrounding the incident.
As of now, Rajab Butt and the other individuals nominated in the complaint have not issued an official public response or statement regarding the allegations made against them.
Because the police inquiry is currently in its preliminary stages, all allegations contained within the FIR remain legally unproven. In accordance with standard legal procedures, criminal liability can only be established through a formal court trial based on verified evidence. Further legal and procedural developments are anticipated in the coming days as the Nawab Town police continue their probe into the high-profile case.
