Saqib Chadhar Claims Rs11 Crore Demand in Momina Iqbal Dispute

LAHORE: PML-N Punjab Assembly member Saqib Chadhar has made fresh allegations in his continuing legal dispute with television actor Momina Iqbal, claiming that a proposed settlement initially involved a demand of Rs20 crore before the amount was reduced to Rs11 crore. The assertions, reported by 24NewsHD on Saturday, have added another highly publicised dimension to a case already under fresh scrutiny by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency.

Chadhar presented the financial claim as part of his defence against allegations previously levelled against him by Iqbal. He maintained that the dispute involved videos allegedly shared without permission and questioned why the amount he says was sought during settlement discussions changed. His account has not been independently verified, and the 24NewsHD report did not include a fresh response from Iqbal or her lawyer to the latest settlement allegations.

The lawmaker also discussed videos involving himself and Iqbal that have circulated online. He claimed they were ordinary recordings and denied that they contained inappropriate material. Chadhar further alleged that some recordings had been made by Iqbal and said he had previously sought to prevent their publication because of concerns about his reputation. These remain his claims and are among the issues requiring examination through the formal investigative process rather than social media assertions.

The dispute has been under official investigation for months. Iqbal earlier accused Chadhar of cyber harassment, stalking, intimidation and threats, leading the NCCIA to register a case under provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and the Pakistan Penal Code. Both sides have appeared before investigators, while the proceedings have attracted significant public attention because they involve a sitting provincial lawmaker and a prominent television personality.

The investigative picture has changed during the case. In July, a previous NCCIA investigating officer told a Lahore sessions court that Chadhar had been found guilty during the investigation. More recently, a new investigating officer told the court that the direction of the probe had changed following new defence evidence and that the arrest of Chadhar and his wife was not required at that stage. Their pre-arrest bail petitions were subsequently withdrawn and disposed of by the court.

The NCCIA has since initiated another examination of the evidence. Fresh notices have been issued as officials review newly presented digital material alongside records gathered during the earlier investigation. The agency has constituted a special investigation team headed by a deputy director-level officer, with officials stressing that it would be premature to declare either side guilty or innocent before completion of the fresh inquiry.

Chadhar has also made personal claims about his past relationship with Iqbal, including that they met in 2019 and later became engaged. He has said he possesses evidence supporting his version of events. Those assertions have not been independently established, and investigators will have to determine what material is relevant to the allegations contained in the registered case and what can be authenticated through digital forensic examination.

The latest remarks have rapidly pushed the dispute back into Pakistan's online conversation, where clips and competing claims involving the two figures have circulated widely. The next significant developments are expected to come through the NCCIA's fresh inquiry and the parties' scheduled appearances before investigators. Until that process is completed, the newest financial and personal allegations remain contested claims rather than established findings.