NCCIA issues fresh notices to Momina Iqbal, Saqib Chadhar over new evidence

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has issued fresh notices to television actor Momina Iqbal and PML-N MPA Saqib Chadhar following the emergence of new evidence in a case involving allegations of online harassment and threats.

Both Iqbal and Chadhar have been summoned to appear before the NCCIA office in Lahore on Friday, September 4. The agency has also formed a special investigation team to conduct a fresh inquiry into the matter.

NCCIA Punjab Deputy Director Waqas Saeed said the team, headed by a deputy director, would examine the newly obtained digital evidence as well as previously available records related to the case.

“The team has been given one month to complete its investigation and submit a report to the NCCIA director general,” Saeed said.

He added that any further legal action would be decided after the investigation was completed and its findings reviewed.

The NCCIA spokesperson also said it would be premature to declare either party guilty or innocent before the fresh inquiry was concluded.

Iqbal had earlier accused Chadhar of online harassment, cyberbullying and threats. Her allegations, initially raised on social media, attracted widespread attention, after which the NCCIA registered a case against Chadhar under provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the Pakistan Penal Code.

Court proceedings

Separately, a Lahore sessions court disposed of Chadhar and his wife’s pre-arrest interim bail petitions as withdrawn after the investigating officer told the court that their arrest was not required at the current stage.

During the hearing, investigating officer Hassan Sajjad Naqvi informed the court that the investigation had been changed and that the suspects did not need to be arrested at this stage.

The development marked a change from the position presented at an earlier hearing on July 28, when then-investigating officer SHO Najam Bajwa had told the court that Chadhar had been found guilty following the investigation.

According to the latest proceedings, the suspects had sought a fresh investigation on the basis of new defence evidence.