Momina Iqbal Rejects ‘Personal Matter’ Claim, Says Harassment Case Is a Matter of Justice
LAHORE: Pakistani actress Momina Iqbal has broken her silence over her ongoing legal case following a viral video outside the Punjab Assembly, stressing that allegations of harassment and death threats cannot be dismissed as a personal matter.
The controversy emerged when a television reporter asked Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Member of the Punjab Assembly Saqib Chadhar about the case filed against him. In response, Chadhar said that the media should refrain from asking questions about his personal life and focus only on matters related to the Punjab Assembly.
Reacting to the viral video, Momina Iqbal shared a detailed statement on her Instagram story, expressing surprise that years of alleged harassment and death threats were still being described as a private issue.
“It is astonishing that this case has been labeled a personal matter from the very beginning,” she said, adding that she had sought protection and justice from state institutions against harassment and threats to her life.
The actress emphasized that such serious allegations cannot be treated as private disputes. “If these cases are considered personal matters, then domestic violence, honor killings, and other grave crimes would also have to be regarded as private issues, which is unacceptable,” she stated.
Momina Iqbal further alleged that there had been continuous efforts to keep her case away from media attention and suppress her voice. However, she clarified that her silence should not be mistaken for weakness or the result of pressure.
She said she had remained patient because of her complete faith in judicial proceedings, the rule of law, and merit-based decisions.
The actress also once again denied reports circulating on social media regarding an out-of-court settlement, reiterating that no reconciliation has taken place and that the case remains pending before the court. She claimed that adjournment requests have been filed by the opposing side at every hearing.
It is worth noting that Momina Iqbal’s lawyer had previously stated that the actress and the accused had known each other since 2022 and that he had proposed marriage to her. According to the lawyer, Momina later discovered that he was already married and allegedly intended to enter into a third marriage, following which she declined the proposal.
The lawyer further claimed that she began receiving threats after rejecting the proposal, prompting her to initiate legal proceedings. The case remains sub judice before the court.
