Court Orders Lawmaker and Wife to Join Investigation
A Lahore sessions court has extended the interim pre-arrest bail of PML-N MPA Saqib Chadhar and his wife until July 13.
Both are facing legal proceedings in a harassment case filed by television actress Momina Iqbal.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Nusrat Ali Siddiqi heard the case on Thursday.
Saqib Chadhar appeared before the court along with his lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq. However, his wife did not attend the hearing. Her absence was linked to health reasons.
After hearing the matter, the court extended the interim bail of both accused.
The judge also directed them to join the investigation. The prosecution was ordered to submit a progress report at the next hearing on July 13.
Case Started After Actress Shared Online Appeal
The case gained public attention in May after Momina Iqbal shared a social media appeal.
In her post, she alleged that she had faced online harassment, cyberbullying, and death threats for a long time.
She also tagged senior PML-N leadership in her appeal.
Iqbal claimed that she and her family had suffered severe mental stress because of the alleged conduct of a provincial lawmaker.
At the time, she did not publicly name the MPA.
She also alleged that she had repeatedly approached the NCCIA and the Federal Investigation Agency, but no effective action was taken.
According to her claim, attempts were made to discourage her from pursuing the matter.
The issue later drew attention from senior party leadership and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Cybercrime Case Registered Against Chadhar
After the controversy grew, the NCCIA summoned both Momina Iqbal and Saqib Chadhar on May 21.
The agency recorded their statements after receiving the actress’s complaint.
Iqbal later filed an application with Lahore’s Chung Police, seeking registration of a case against Chadhar.
In her complaint, she alleged that the MPA made threatening calls to harass her and her fiance.
She also claimed that Chadhar became abusive after she refused his marriage proposal.
The actress alleged that the lawmaker later started blackmailing her and sent threatening messages through WhatsApp and video calls.
She further claimed that similar messages were also sent to her sister’s mobile phone.
On June 4, the NCCIA registered a case against Chadhar under sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and the Pakistan Penal Code.
The charges include alleged cyber stalking, criminal intimidation, offences against modesty, abetment, and related offences.
Chadhar secured pre-arrest interim bail a day later. The bail was earlier extended on June 25 and has now been extended again until July 13.
