the incident had stemmed from a misunderstanding.
Pakistani businessman Salman Farooqi has been cleared of the charges in an assault case.
The matter was closed after the victim withdrew his statement.
The City Court of Karachi accepted the final police report on July 12, 2025, clearing Farooqi of the charges based on a written affidavit from the alleged victim.
The case stemmed from a widely circulated video that showed Farooqi engaging in a physical altercation with a young man.
The incident took place in front of the victim’s sister, sparking widespread public condemnation on social media platforms.
Following the video’s circulation, the Gizri police had launched an investigation and initially registered a case under various penal sections.
In their final report, submitted as a “C-Class” case, the police cited that the complainant no longer wished to pursue legal action.
According to the statement included in the police report, the victim admitted that the incident had stemmed from a misunderstanding.
He further wrote that Salman Farooqi did not misbehave with him or his sister during the interaction.
The victim also submitted an affidavit declaring that he was voluntarily stepping away from the legal process and held no charges.
Police confirmed that all accusations, including threats to life, were dropped after the written statement was verified and included in the report.
The court reviewed and accepted the report, entering it into the case record and closing the file until further notice.
Earlier stages of the case had seen intense scrutiny due to the video, which had fuelled public demands for justice from civil society and legal circles.
After the video went viral, both Salman Farooqi and a co-accused, Awais Hashmi, were briefly taken into custody and later granted bail.
The development raised questions over the integrity of witness protection and the potential influence in high-profile cases.
Legal analysts noted that such retractions, while permissible, often raise concerns regarding coercion or informal settlements outside of court.
No official statement has been released by Farooqi or his legal team following the court’s decision to close the case.
However, the public believes the victim was pressured into withdrawing his statement.
A user wrote:
“If you’re rich in Pakistan, you’re untouchable.”
Another commented: “He was probably threatened to do that.”
One said: “It was either threats or money. We clearly saw what happened in the video.”
With the charges now dismissed, Salman Farooqi faces no ongoing legal consequences from the incident captured in the viral video.
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