Lahore: A new development has emerged in actress Momina Iqbal’s alleged harassment and death-threat case, with a joint investigation team (JIT) of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) declaring PML-N Punjab Assembly member Saqib Chadhar and his wife, Sumaira, innocent in its investigation.
The development came during proceedings before a Lahore sessions court on Thursday, where the investigating officer submitted the latest investigation report. The officer informed the court that the NCCIA had changed its investigation team and constituted a JIT to conduct a fresh inquiry into the allegations.
The investigating officer further told the court that the arrest of Saqib Chadhar and his wife was not required at this stage. Following the statement, Chadhar withdrew his interim bail petition, while the court disposed of the bail applications filed by him and his wife as withdrawn.
Momina Iqbal appeared before the court along with her lawyer, Adnan Ehsan. Her counsel objected to the investigation report, arguing that the investigation team had been changed without taking the complainant into confidence. He also questioned whether the fresh inquiry had been completed properly before the suspects were cleared.
The case began after Momina Iqbal publicly alleged that she had faced online harassment, cyberbullying and death threats. She later filed a complaint against Saqib Chadhar, following which the NCCIA registered a case under provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the Pakistan Penal Code.
There has been a significant shift in the investigation. On July 28, 2026, a previous NCCIA investigating officer had told the Lahore court that Chadhar had been found guilty following an investigation. However, the new investigation team has now reached a different conclusion and cleared Chadhar and his wife.
The matter remains contested, with Momina Iqbal’s legal team challenging the latest investigation findings. Meanwhile, the NCCIA has indicated that fresh digital evidence is being examined as part of the renewed inquiry.
