A Lahore court has formally charged popular Pakistani YouTuber Saad Ur Rehman, known as “Ducky Bhai,” his wife Aroob Jatoi, and several others in a case related to the promotion of online gambling applications in Pakistan.
According to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), the accused encouraged ordinary Pakistani citizens to invest in apps that facilitate online gambling, a practice prohibited under Pakistani law.
The case highlights growing concerns over the use of social media influencers to promote illegal online gambling platforms.
Saadur Rehman was initially arrested at Lahore Airport in August last year while attempting to travel to Malaysia with his wife, Aroob Jatoi.
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After nearly three months in custody, he was released on bail on November 26 following a Lahore High Court order. His wife and other co-accused remain under investigation as the legal proceedings continue.
On Monday, the accused appeared before Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wato in Lahore, where formal charges were read out.
All defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations. The magistrate has summoned witnesses for February 23 to provide testimony in the ongoing investigation.
The NCCIA’s case is part of a broader crackdown on illegal online gambling operations in Pakistan.
READ: YouTuber Ducky Bhai gets bail in gambling app promotion case
Authorities have increasingly warned social media personalities and influencers against promoting such applications, emphasizing that encouraging citizens to gamble online constitutes a criminal offense under national cybercrime and gaming laws.
Earlier to this, Saad Ur Rehman released a detailed video recounting his harrowing 100-day ordeal in custody and how a man, referred to as “Big Brother,” played a pivotal role in protecting him and his family.
The video has already gone viral, sparking widespread discussion across social media and news platforms.
According to Saad Ur Rehman, the nightmare began on 16 August 2025 when he was arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation. What followed were 100 days of mental and emotional torment for him and his family – a period he describes as a roller-coaster of fear, uncertainty, and despair.
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Saad recounts that at his lowest point, he had almost given up hope and did not know if he would ever see freedom again.
However, his narrative takes a dramatic turn with the introduction of ‘Big Brother’, an unnamed individual who intervened quietly yet decisively.
“I even requested him to let me publicly acknowledge what he did for my family,” Saad says. “But he replied that they work in the shadows and don’t need any recognition.
He said, ‘Your family is our family. We had to step in because some people were using our institution’s name to extort money from you. Our duty is to serve the country. If you were wrong, we wouldn’t have helped, but we saw your family struggling, so we had to act.’
Saad describes how Big Brother and his team took careful, calculated steps to ensure his safety and the well-being of his family.
