Punjab Police have taken swift action against YouTuber Hassan Iqbal Chishti, a controversial cleric known for his inflammatory remarks against girls’ education and women’s rights.
According to reports, Chishti was apprehended while leading Maghrib prayers at a local mosque. Eyewitnesses and some of his followers captured footage of the police pickup truck transporting him.
The arrest follows a wave of outrage from his followers. Documents reveal that Chishti’s speeches and online content, particularly on his YouTube channel, were widely condemned for inciting hatred, spreading misogynistic views, and making derogatory statements about the Prophet, his companions, and women in general.
One complaint to the FIA Cyber Crime Wing highlighted that Chishti’s videos violated constitutional rights, Islamic principles, and cyber laws, specifically targeting girls’ education and equating girls with mobile phones to “prostitutes.” The complainant stressed that such content has caused immense pain and distress to millions across Pakistan.
Further, handwritten police reports and applications from citizens and religious leaders called for strict legal action, citing the risk of unrest and the need to protect the dignity and rights of women and girls. The documents also noted that Chishti’s rhetoric could provoke law and order issues and demanded that authorities prevent the spread of such hate speech.
A mob led by Chishti’s brother, Fazal Chishti, threatened to file a blasphemy FIR against the police officer responsible for the arrest, escalating tensions in the area.
Following the arrest, all hateful content from Hassan Iqbal Chishti’s YouTube channel has been removed.
Authorities stated that Chishti’s videos, including songs with harmful and misogynistic messages, were removed from his YouTube channel. The YouTuber first drew attention last year when his song “Othy Dance Kardi Payie,” which insinuated indecency among schoolgirls, went viral and garnered over 100,000 views.
Despite criticism, Chishti continued to post content explicitly targeting fathers who sent their daughters to school. His actions sparked a wave of backlash and calls for legal action. Police confirmed receiving several reports accusing him of inciting hatred and spreading misinformation.
Chishti remains in custody as authorities continue their investigation.
