Rajab Butt Sentenced: Community Service
Rajab Butt's community service sentence includes creating monthly videos on animal rights, aiming to raise awareness and promote a culture of responsibility towards wildlife, following his conviction for keeping a lion cub without a valid permit.
A Pakistani court has sentenced popular YouTuber Rajab Butt to one year of community service for keeping a lion cub in his house without a valid permit, highlighting the importance of animal rights and welfare in the country.
The sentence, issued by judicial magistrate Hamidul Rehman Nasir, requires Butt to record a video once a month on animal rights for 5 minutes, starting from February 2025 to January 2026. This unique punishment aims to raise awareness about the importance of treating animals with respect and care. The lion cub, named "Bhatti," was handed over to the Lahore Safari Zoo after being confiscated from Butt's residence during a raid.
Butt, a popular TikToker, received the lion cub as a gift on his marriage and later admitted his guilt, demonstrating remorse for his actions. The court's decision to sentence him to community service instead of a traditional punishment reflects the importance of educating the public about animal rights and promoting a culture of responsibility towards wildlife.
The zoo's director, Tariq Janjua, emphasized that keeping wild animals as pets is a form of abuse and can be detrimental to both humans and animals. This incident serves as a reminder of the need for stricter laws and regulations to protect wildlife and prevent such incidents in the future.
The sentence marks a significant step towards promoting animal welfare in Pakistan, and it is hoped that it will serve as a deterrent to others who may consider keeping wild animals as pets. By using his platform to raise awareness about animal rights, Rajab Butt can make a positive impact and help create a more compassionate society.
