Momina Iqbal Case: Court Disposes of Saqib Chadhar Bail Pleas

LAHORE: A Lahore sessions court on Thursday disposed of pre-arrest interim bail petitions filed by PML-N Punjab Assembly member Saqib Chadhar and his wife after the two withdrew their applications in the harassment case brought by television actor Momina Iqbal. The development followed a statement by the current investigating officer that the suspects' arrests were not required at the present stage of the investigation.

Investigating officer Hassan Sajjad Naqvi informed the court that the status of the investigation had changed following a fresh examination of the case. His position differed from that presented at an earlier hearing on July 28, when then-investigating officer Najam Bajwa of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency told the sessions court that Chadhar had been found culpable following the investigation conducted at that time.

The fresh inquiry was initiated after the suspects sought a reinvestigation on the basis of what they described as new defence evidence. Iqbal was separately summoned by the investigating officer on September 1 so her statement regarding the new material could be recorded. She was also present in court during Thursday's proceedings when the investigating officer informed the judge that custody of Chadhar and his wife was not presently required.

Following that statement, Chadhar and his wife withdrew their pre-arrest bail applications. The court consequently disposed of the petitions as withdrawn rather than deciding them on their merits. The procedural development does not by itself amount to a final judicial determination of the allegations, and the investigation remains central to what happens next in the case.

The dispute first drew widespread attention in May when Iqbal alleged on social media that she had faced prolonged online harassment, cyberbullying and death threats. Without initially identifying the accused publicly, she alleged that a PML-N provincial lawmaker had been threatening her and said she had previously approached cybercrime authorities. The allegations generated significant public attention and prompted senior party figures to call for action if the complaint was substantiated.

The NCCIA subsequently summoned Iqbal and Chadhar on May 21 to record their statements. Iqbal later approached Lahore's Chung Police seeking registration of a case against the lawmaker. In her complaint, she alleged that threatening calls had been made to her and her fiancé and that Chadhar became abusive after she rejected a marriage proposal upon learning that he was already married. She also alleged blackmail involving WhatsApp communications and video calls, as well as threatening messages sent to her sister.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had publicly warned that political influence or pressure would not be tolerated in the matter and said any attempt to exploit or threaten a woman through personal material would face firm action. The NCCIA later registered a case against Chadhar on June 4 under provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act dealing with unauthorised access, transmission of data, offences against modesty and cyberstalking, alongside Pakistan Penal Code provisions covering criminal intimidation, disappearance of evidence, common intention and abetment.

The latest court development shifts attention back to the NCCIA's fresh investigation and the evidence being reviewed by the new inquiry team. Further proceedings will depend on the agency's final findings and any subsequent legal steps arising from them. Given the involvement of a sitting provincial lawmaker and a prominent television actor, the case is likely to remain under close public scrutiny as investigators determine whether additional action is warranted.