LONDON: British authorities have deported famous Pakistani YouTuber Rajab Butt after cancelling his visa over undeclared criminal cases in Pakistan, according to media reports.
Butt, who has more than 7.74 million subscribers, left the United Kingdom early on Tuesday morning on a flight to Pakistan. He was accompanied by fellow YouTuber Nadeem Mubarak, known as Nadeem Naniwala, according to Pakistani media reports.
The UK Home Office revoked Butt’s visa, which had been valid until 2027. Officials found that he had failed to disclose multiple pending legal cases in Pakistan during his visa application, according to media reports.
Concealment of such information is considered a serious violation of British immigration rules and can lead to immediate expulsion.
Butt departed London following formal deportation orders, Pakistani news channel ARY News reported. A source close to Butt, cited by ARY News, confirmed the deportation.
Terror allegations
The deportation followed an inquiry launched after Britain’s MI-16 briefly detained Butt and Naniwala.
The agency acted on anonymous complaints alleging links to terrorism. Both men were cleared of all terrorism accusations.
Naniwala, a British national, was released. However, Butt’s documents were referred to the Home Office for further review.
During this process, officials found the undeclared cases, which Pakistani institutions had already communicated to UK authorities, according to Pakistani media reports.
The Home Office then issued an order instructing Butt to leave the country immediately.
Earlier this month, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted protective bail to both Butt and Naniwala in cybercrime and other pending cases registered in Pakistan.
The court directed authorities not to arrest the two content creators upon their arrival at Islamabad International Airport.
Justice Raja Inam Amin Minhas instructed both men to appear before the IHC on Wednesday as part of their bail requirements.
Cybercrime and other allegations in Pakistan
Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), part of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), has registered a case against Butt.
The FIR states that he promoted illegal gambling and betting applications. According to investigators, Butt earned significant sums by acting as a brand ambassador for these platforms and uploading sponsored videos that encouraged users to invest in online betting schemes.
Authorities said Butt did not respond to multiple summons, leading to the formal registration of the case.
