Investigation team of Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Authority (NCCIA) will present YouTuber Ducky Bhai before the court in Lahore on Friday (September 5).
The judge on Wednesday (September 3) accepted the authorities’ request for third extension to the physical remand of Saad-ur-Rehman (the real name of Ducky Bhai). He was arrested on August 17 at Lahore airport, while “attempting to flee Pakistan.”
Since then, Ducky Bhai has been tossed back and forth between the court and the NCCIA. His detention has become one of the hottest social media topics in Pakistan.
Who is Ducky Bhai:
Ducky Bhai is among top five most popular YouTubers in Pakistan, according to 2024 YouTube list of popular creators. His channel on world’s most popular video-sharing platform has around nine million subscribers. 28-year-old, social media icon, lives in Lahore. He is son of Dr Zulfiqar Habib, who spent several years in Japan before moving back to Pakistan. Ducky Bhai was three-year old when his father went to Japan. Saad has created his YouTube channel ‘Ducky Bhai’ in 2017.
Charges:
Immigration authorities had arrested Ducky Bhai at Allama Iqbal International Airport on Saturday night, August 17, before handing him over to NCCIA. The authorities, subsequently, registered the case against him, stating his name had already been placed on ‘no-fly’ (Provisional National Identification List-PNIL) list.
The investigation agency accused him of money laundering through online gambling apps. Authorities claim Saad promoted gambling apps on different social media platforms. They claimed they seized the accused cell phone, recovering suspicious numbers and sensitive data. They accused him of having link with Binomo promotions. Ducky Bhai, according to investigators, received millions of rupees to the gambling app and also involved in promotion of over 12 other gambling apps through advertisement.
Saad-ur-Rehman has not come on authorities’ radar first time. Pakistan Motorway Police booked Ducky Bhai in Rawalpindi for performing dangerous stunts, while driving on motorways. Lahore police arrested him and his wife Aroob Jatoi in 2024 for displaying firearms on social media.
Lawyers:
Ducky Bhai’s lawyer Advocate Ch Usman Ali denies allegations and argued against the extension in accused remand on Wednesday. He said authorities could obtain Saad’s financial records without keeping him in custody.
Advocate Mian Abdul Mateen, a lawyer and social media personality, described extensions in Ducky Bhai remand as unfair.
Gambling in Pakistan:
All types of gambling, known as ‘Maysir/Maisir’, are banned in Pakistan under Prevention of Gambling Act and the Penal Code of Pakistan. But reports say it is continuously rising particularly among youth on social media.
NCCIA:
Established in May, 2024, NCCIA investigates cybercrime within Pakistan and works under Ministry of Interior.
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