Lahore court extends bail of PML-N lawmaker, wife in Momina Iqbal harassment case

LAHORE: A sessions court in Lahore on Monday extended the interim pre-arrest bail of PML-N MPA Saqib Chadhar and his wife until July 28 in a case related to the alleged harassment of television actor Momina Iqbal.

According to the proceedings, Chadhar appeared before the court along with his counsel, while his wife did not attend the hearing. During the hearing, the investigating officer of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) sought additional time to complete the inquiry.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Nusrat Ali Siddiqi then extended the couple’s interim bail till July 28 and directed the investigating officer to submit a progress report at the next hearing.

Case registered on actor’s complaint

The NCCIA had registered the case against Chadhar and his wife early last month on a complaint filed by Iqbal.

The case includes allegations under Sections 3, 4, 21 and 24 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, relating to unauthorised access to information systems or data, unauthorised copying or transmission of data, offences against the modesty of a natural person and minor, and cyberstalking. It also invokes Sections 506, 201, 34 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code, covering criminal intimidation, causing disappearance of evidence or giving false information to screen an offender, common intention, and abetment.

Allegations outlined in FIR

According to the first information report, Iqbal alleged that Chadhar, his wife and their associates had subjected her and her family to a prolonged campaign involving cyber harassment, stalking, criminal intimidation, blackmail, defamation, unlawful surveillance and threats.

She further alleged that after she turned down Chadhar’s marriage proposal upon learning that he was already married, he responded with threats, attempts to obtain her private data, the sending of violent material, and blackmail involving her private videos.

The FIR also states that Chadhar allegedly damaged her social and professional standing, interfered with a marriage proposal in 2023 by spreading false information, and had recently escalated threats to leak private material, harm her and her fiance, and obstruct her forthcoming marriage.

According to the FIR, these actions caused her severe emotional distress as well as reputational and professional harm.