Lahore court sets August 18 deadline to indict TikToker Rajab Butt and four others in sex‑assault case.

A sessions court in Lahore has ordered that TikToker Rajab Butt and four other suspects appear on August 18 for indictment over a sexual‑assault case. The court, presided over by Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafaryab, heard a private complaint filed in 2025 by a social media influencer. She said she was subjected to sexual assault and subsequent blackmail, and she cited WhatsApp messages, a medical report, and a statement taken under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The five suspects have previously sought pre‑arrest bail from a sessions court and denied the allegations. Last month, Nawab Town police registered a separate case against Butt and his accomplices after an altercation at a café, during which they allegedly attacked women and opened fire. The same complainant also filed the 2025 sexual‑assault claim. Butt faces other legal proceedings, including accusations of hurting religious sentiments, promoting online gambling, and physical assault. The August 18 hearing will be the first time all five suspects are formally charged in the court‑filed complaint.