TikTok star Rajab Butt lands in hot water again over court order violation

Punjab Wildlife officials are set to return to court after TikTok star Rajab Butt failed to comply with a judicial order, which required him to create and share monthly awareness videos about wildlife conservation.

Last month, the court had directed Butt to produce videos during the first week of each month for the next year, aimed at educating the public on the importance of protecting wildlife. However, despite the February deadline passing, no video was uploaded, nor did Butt utilise the material provided by the Wildlife department.

Mian Asim Kamran, Deputy Director of Punjab Wildlife's Lahore region, confirmed that Butt’s actions had violated the court's explicit instructions. "We will inform the court and request action against Rajab Butt," Kamran said.

Butt had previously come under scrutiny when he was found to be unlawfully keeping a lion cub, a gift received at his wedding, in his possession. In response, Punjab Wildlife initiated legal action.

The court had presented Butt with three options as punishment: imprisonment, a hefty fine, or taking responsibility for creating wildlife awareness videos. Butt chose the third option, promising to use his social media following to raise awareness about wildlife conservation.

Following this commitment, Butt met with Director General of Wildlife, Mudassir Riaz, and acknowledged his responsibilities. The department provided him with necessary materials to aid in creating impactful videos for the campaign.

However, with Butt failing to meet the February deadline for the first video, wildlife officials have expressed concern. "We will approach the court and request further legal action to ensure the judicial order is enforced," said Kamran.

This case highlights the serious consequences of ignoring court orders, with wildlife authorities emphasising that such violations must be dealt with decisively to uphold the law and protect Pakistan’s wildlife.