LAHORE: Pakistani actress Momina Iqbal has said she will continue to speak out over what she describes as alleged harassment and mistreatment, declaring that she is standing up for women across Pakistan.
Speaking to reporters outside a court, Iqbal said no one should be allowed to target the dignity of women without being held accountable.
She alleged that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had changed the direction of the investigation through what she described as alleged collusion, adding that she was not informed about the change.
In the latest development, the NCCIA submitted a report in the case concerning alleged harassment and threats against Iqbal involving Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Saqib Chadhar and his wife, Sameera.
According to the investigating officer, the NCCIA has changed the investigation process and formed a joint investigation team (JIT). The officer told the court that the arrest of Saqib Chadhar and Sameera is not currently required.
The investigating officer further said Chadhar withdrew his interim bail after the investigation officer’s statement was presented.
Speaking to the media after appearing before the sessions court, Chadhar said the evidence submitted to the NCCIA had led investigators to conclude that his arrest was not required. He thanked God for what he described as being cleared and claimed that the proceedings had demonstrated that the case was false and baseless.
Iqbal, however, maintained that the case should not be viewed from a biased perspective. She said she had been making the same demand since the beginning of the proceedings.
She questioned why a woman would make such allegations shortly before her marriage and said she had trusted individuals who had previously claimed to know both sides of the story.
“I will not leave this case like this,” Iqbal said, adding that she would continue pursuing the matter regardless of whom the other side approached.
The actress also said she intended to present what she described as evidence against Chadhar on social media and pursue the matter through every available forum.
Iqbal said she had received offers to settle the dispute but had declined them.
She added that several people had advised her to remain silent because she was now married. However, she said she had decided to raise her voice over what she alleges happened to her rather than remain silent.
