Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) told a Lahore court on Tuesday that PML-N lawmaker Saqib Chadhar was found guilty following an investigation into harassment allegations by actor Momina Iqbal. Additional District and Sessions Judge Nusrat Ali Siddiqui extended pre-arrest bail for Chadhar and his wife until Sept. 3, as both sides prepare to present final arguments.
What did the NCCIA investigation find against Saqib Chadhar?
NCCIA Lahore Station House Officer Najam Bajwa told the court the investigation into Chadhar was complete and had found him guilty of the allegations raised by Iqbal. Chadhar's wife handed her mobile phone to investigators two days earlier, and the device was sent for forensic examination as part of the case.
The couple appeared in court after their previous interim pre-arrest bail expired. Iqbal's lawyer asked the judge to reject their bail requests, arguing that releasing them on bail would pose a threat to the actor. The judge extended the pre-arrest bail regardless and directed both sides to present final arguments at the next hearing.
Why was Saqib Chadhar granted bail extensions?
Chadhar and his wife first secured pre-arrest bail on June 5, a day after the NCCIA registered the case against them. Their bail has been extended multiple times since then, with the latest extension pushing the case to Sept. 3. The extensions have kept the couple out of custody while the NCCIA's forensic and investigative work continued.
How did the harassment allegations against Saqib Chadhar begin?
The case drew national attention after Iqbal posted an appeal on social media in May, alleging she had endured prolonged online harassment, cyberbullying and death threats. She tagged senior PML-N leaders, including Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, saying she and her family had suffered severe mental stress and trauma. Iqbal wrote that a PML-N provincial assembly member had threatened her for an extended period, and that repeated reports to the NCCIA and the Federal Investigation Agency produced no action.
She further alleged that attempts were made to suppress her complaints, including by individuals associated with the chief minister's office. Following the viral post, senior PML-N leaders directed the NCCIA to examine the complaint and act if the allegations were substantiated. The Chief Minister's Office also moved to distance itself from Iqbal's accusations.
The NCCIA summoned Iqbal and Chadhar on May 21 after receiving her complaint. After both recorded their statements, Iqbal asked Lahore's Chung Police to register a criminal case against the lawmaker.
What are the harassment and blackmail allegations against Chadhar?
In her complaint, Iqbal alleged that Chadhar repeatedly made threatening phone calls to harass her and her fiancé, and became abusive after she rejected his marriage proposal upon learning he was already married to two women. She also accused him of blackmail, citing WhatsApp messages and video calls, and alleged that similar threatening messages were sent to her sister's phone. Maryam Nawaz later said on X that any attempt to use political influence, threaten a woman or exploit her by releasing personal content in the case would face firm and uncompromising action.
On June 4, the NCCIA registered a case against Chadhar under multiple provisions of Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, including unauthorized access to information systems, unauthorized copying or transmission of data, offenses against the modesty of a person, and cyberstalking. The case also includes Pakistan Penal Code charges related to criminal intimidation, destruction of evidence and abetment.
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