YouTuber Rajab Butt Faces Three Inquiries, May Be Extradited via Interpol: NCCIA Official

Lahore: Additional Director of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Sarfraz Chaudhry, has revealed that Pakistani YouTuber Rajab Butt is facing three active investigations and could potentially be extradited to Pakistan through Interpol.

Speaking on journalist Mansoor Ali Khan’s podcast, Sarfraz Chaudhry disclosed that Rajab Butt is currently under investigation for promoting gambling and blasphemy. “Two of the inquiries are related to blasphemy – one filed by Muslims and the other by Christians – and one is related to gambling promotion,” he explained. “As soon as the blasphemy investigations were initiated in June, he fled the country.”

Chaudhry confirmed that Rajab Butt’s name has been added to the Exit Control List (ECL), meaning he will be arrested upon re-entering Pakistan. However, if he does not return voluntarily, legal action will be initiated, leading to the issuance of an FIR and arrest warrants. If he fails to surrender within a month, perpetual warrants will be obtained, and after another month, the matter will be referred to Interpol for the issuance of red warrants.

According to Chaudhry, Rajab Butt is reportedly residing in the United Arab Emirates, with which Pakistan has a prisoner extradition agreement. Under Section 88 of the law, authorities can request Interpol intervention, freeze bank accounts, seize assets, and block all records linked to the individual’s national identity card.

He also highlighted a key challenge: “Blasphemy is treated differently in the West. Interpol often hesitates to act on such cases because of the differing perspectives on religious speech.”

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities explore both legal and diplomatic avenues to bring Butt back to face charges in Pakistan.