The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has launched a fresh investigation into the cyber harassment and death-threat case involving Pakistani actress Momina Iqbal and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Saqib Chadhar.
The development came after Iqbal rejected an earlier NCCIA investigation report that had declared Chadhar and his wife, Sumaira, innocent of the allegations.
According to the agency, newly discovered digital evidence has prompted the authorities to reopen the case and conduct a detailed review of the available material.
NCCIA issues fresh notices
An official NCCIA spokesperson said the agency had decided to reopen the investigation after new digital evidence emerged.
Fresh notices have been issued to both Momina Iqbal and Saqib Chadhar, requiring them to participate in the renewed inquiry.
The agency has constituted a special investigation team headed by a Deputy Director to examine the case.
The team has been directed to review the newly discovered digital material along with the previous investigation record, communication logs and forensic evidence.
The NCCIA said the fresh investigation is intended to ensure that all available evidence is properly examined before any final conclusion is reached.
Investigation to be completed within one month
According to the NCCIA spokesperson, the special team is expected to complete its re-investigation within one month.
After completing the inquiry, the team will submit its final report to the Director General of the NCCIA.
The Director General will then determine what further legal action, if any, should be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
The agency also stressed that it would be premature to declare any party guilty or innocent before the renewed investigation has been completed.
The development effectively places the cyber harassment allegations back under formal investigation after conflicting positions emerged over the earlier inquiry.
Earlier report cleared Saqib Chadhar and wife
The latest development followed proceedings at a Lahore sessions court, where the NCCIA had presented an investigation report concerning Saqib Chadhar and his wife, Sumaira.
According to the report presented before the court, the agency had reconstituted its original investigation team into a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to reassess the allegations made by Momina Iqbal.
The investigating officer told the court that the JIT had found no actionable evidence against the couple at that stage.
The report also concluded that their arrest was not necessary at that point.
Following the submission of the JIT report, Chadhar’s defence team withdrew his interim pre-arrest bail petition. The court subsequently disposed of the bail applications involving the two suspects.
Momina Iqbal rejects investigation findings
Momina Iqbal strongly objected to the earlier investigation report and said she would continue pursuing the case through legal channels.
Speaking to reporters outside the court alongside her lawyer, Adnan Ehsan, the actress expressed disappointment over the handling of the investigation.
Iqbal questioned the decision to replace the original investigation team with a new JIT and raised concerns about the manner in which the inquiry had been conducted.
Her legal team also formally challenged the JIT report.
According to the objections raised by her lawyer, the complainant was not adequately informed during the investigation, while the lawmaker was declared clear before what the defence described as a complete forensic examination had been conducted.
Fresh digital evidence changes case
The emergence of new digital evidence has now prompted the NCCIA to revisit the matter.
Digital evidence can play an important role in cybercrime investigations, particularly in cases involving alleged online harassment, threats, communications and electronic records.
The special investigation team will therefore examine both the newly discovered material and evidence collected during the earlier inquiry.
The agency’s decision to conduct another investigation also means that the previous findings will be subject to further review.
Legal battle continues
Momina Iqbal has maintained that she intends to pursue the case to the fullest extent of the law.
The fresh NCCIA investigation could determine whether the newly identified digital evidence supports the allegations or leads authorities to maintain the findings of the earlier inquiry.
For now, the agency has emphasized that no final determination regarding guilt or innocence should be made until the renewed investigation is completed.
The case remains under legal and investigative consideration, with the NCCIA expected to submit its findings to the Director General after completing the fresh inquiry.
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