A Lahore court has granted interim pre-arrest bail to PML-N Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Saqib Chadhar in a high-profile cyber harassment case filed by Pakistani television actor Momina Iqbal. The development comes a day after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) registered a case against the lawmaker based on allegations made by the actress.
The bail was granted by Additional District and Sessions Judge Irfan Ahmad Sheikh during a hearing on Friday. The court directed that Saqib Chadhar should not be arrested until June 24 and instructed the NCCIA to submit the complete case record during the next hearing. The lawmaker appeared before the court alongside his legal counsel, Mian Ali Ashfaq.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the case was registered under multiple sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code. The allegations include cyber harassment, criminal intimidation, blackmail, stalking, defamation, unlawful surveillance, and threats directed toward Momina Iqbal and her family.
Momina Iqbal alleged that Saqib Chadhar, along with his wife and other associates, engaged in a prolonged campaign of harassment after she declined a marriage proposal upon learning that he was already married. According to the complaint, the rejection led to repeated threats, attempts to access private information, blackmail involving alleged private content, and efforts to damage her personal and professional reputation.
The actress further claimed that false information was spread to disrupt her marriage proposal in 2023 and that subsequent threats were made to leak private material and interfere with her future marriage plans. She stated that these actions caused significant emotional, social, and professional distress.
The FIR also mentions that preliminary technical and forensic examinations of mobile devices and digital evidence reportedly contributed to the registration of the case. Authorities have indicated that investigations are ongoing and additional findings may emerge as the inquiry progresses.
The controversy gained widespread public attention after Momina Iqbal shared details of the alleged harassment on social media. Her statements sparked public debate and attracted attention from senior political figures, including Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The actress claimed that earlier complaints submitted to authorities had not received adequate attention and that she and her family had suffered severe mental stress.
Following public pressure and growing media coverage, the NCCIA summoned both parties for questioning and recorded their statements before officially registering the case. Investigators stated that the legal process was initiated after reviewing available evidence and hearing statements from those involved.
In a related development, Momina Iqbal’s husband, Hamza Habib, had previously secured interim protective bail from the Lahore High Court in a separate case involving allegations of threatening the lawmaker. This parallel legal matter has further increased public interest in the ongoing dispute.
Legal experts note that cyber harassment cases filed under PECA continue to receive significant attention in Pakistan, particularly when they involve public figures. The outcome of this case may influence future discussions regarding digital privacy, online harassment, cybercrime enforcement, and legal protections for victims.
As investigations continue, both parties are expected to present evidence and arguments before the court. The next hearing is scheduled for June 24, when the NCCIA will submit the complete case record for judicial review.
