Rajab Butt and Nadeem Naniwala have filed petitions in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to contest the travel restrictions imposed on them, 24NewsHD reported. The petitions, submitted through counsels Barrister Qadeer Janjua and Ahad Khokhar, name the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the interior secretary, and other relevant authorities as respondents.
The petitioners have requested that the court direct the concerned departments to remove their names from the travel restriction list, allowing them to travel freely.
Rajab Butt has been a controversial figure in recent years, frequently making headlines due to legal cases and public incidents. Most recently, he was reportedly attacked by a group of lawyers at Karachi City Courts, allegedly following remarks he made about the legal fraternity. An FIR filed by Barrister Mian Ali Ashfaq described the incident as a “brutal, unlawful and premeditated physical assault.”
In addition, a blasphemy case against Rajab Butt is ongoing, with a Karachi court recently adjourning proceedings until February 10. He has faced multiple FIRs, including a September 2025 case by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for allegedly promoting illegal online gambling apps such as Binomo, 1xBet, Bet365, and B9 Game on social media, which reportedly defrauded users.
In March 2025, another FIR was filed against him under blasphemy laws and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) following controversy over his perfume brand “295,” which allegedly triggered religious backlash. In December 2024, Rajab Butt was arrested for keeping a lion cub and unlicensed weapons at his residence; he later admitted to possessing the undocumented wild animal, explaining that the cub was a wedding gift.
Nadeem Naniwala has also faced legal scrutiny, including an NCCIA case linked to gambling promotions and a separate arrest in September 2025 for allegedly using a fake vehicle registration number.
The travel ban challenge at the IHC is being closely watched, as both individuals seek to lift restrictions amid a series of ongoing legal proceedings. The court’s decision will determine whether Rajab Butt and Nadeem Naniwala can regain the freedom to travel while facing multiple pending cases.
