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Pakistani MPA, wife get extended pre-arrest bail in actress harassment case
🇵🇰 Pakistan /Crime & Justice

Pakistani MPA, wife get extended pre-arrest bail in actress harassment case

From Dawn · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • A Pakistani court extended the pre-arrest bail for MPA Saqib Chadhar and his wife until July 28.
  • They are accused of harassing television actress Momina Iqbal, facing charges including cyber stalking and criminal intimidation.
  • The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency is investigating the complaint filed by Iqbal.

A sessions court in Lahore has extended the interim pre-arrest bail for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Saqib Chadhar and his wife. The couple is facing legal proceedings for allegedly harassing television actress Momina Iqbal. Their bail has been extended until July 28.

Chadhar appeared in court with his lawyers, while his wife was absent. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which is handling the investigation, requested more time to complete its inquiry. Additional District and Sessions Judge Nusrat Ali Siddiqi granted the extension, directing the investigating officer to submit a progress report at the next hearing.

The case was registered against Chadhar and his wife last month following a complaint by Iqbal. The FIR details allegations of a sustained campaign of cyber harassment, stalking, criminal intimidation, blackmailing, defamation, and threats against Iqbal and her family. Iqbal claims that after she rejected Chadhar's marriage proposal upon learning of his existing marriage, he retaliated with threats, attempts to access her private data, and blackmail using her private videos.

The FIR further states that Chadhar allegedly defamed her socially and professionally, sabotaged a marriage proposal through false information, and intensified threats to leak private material and harm her and her fiancé. These actions have reportedly caused severe emotional, reputational, and professional harm to the actress. The charges fall under various sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) and the Pakistan Penal Code, including cyber stalking and criminal intimidation.

The accused (Chadhar) allegedly defamed her socially and professionally, sabotaged her 2023 marriage proposal through false information, and recently intensified threats to leak private material, harm her and her fiance, and disrupt her upcoming marriage, causing severe emotional, reputational and professional harm.

— First Information Report (FIR)Detailing the allegations made by Momina Iqbal against Saqib Chadhar.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dawn in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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