Demands apology, calls on scholar to remove all content within stipulated period or face legal consequences
Religious Scholar Allama Nasir Madani and Actor Momina Iqbal. Photo: Files
Actress Momina Iqbal on Wednesday sent a legal notice to religious scholar Nasir Madani demanding Rs190 million in damages, statement retraction and public apology within a week over allegedly derogatory remarks shared through a Meta video that went viral recently.
In the widely circulated video, the scholar allegedly described the actress as “satanic” and “avaricious”, accusing her of accepting several financial benefits before filing harassment allegations against Punjab MPA Saqib Chadhar.
The notice stressed and highlighted that the statements severely damaged Momina’s reputation, led to mental agony and furthered public character assassination.
The legal notice, sent through Advocate Adnan Ahsan Khan, claimed that comments made by Madani on June 14 and 15 regarding the actor were “highly defamatory, scandalous, humiliating and derogatory” and the scholar repeatedly attacked her character in the social media messages.
According to the notice, the remarks constitute an offence under the Defamation Ordinance 2002, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, and the Pakistan Penal Code 1860.
The notice called on Madani to publicly retract the statements, issue an apology, and remove all nefarious content about Momina within the stipulated time or face legal consequences.
“I will not forgive you”
Before issuing the legal notice, Momina strongly criticised Madani’s remarks on an Instagram story and said that she would not forgive him.
“Accusations hurled at someone without evidence that damage a person’s honour are grave sins according to Islam,” she said.
Referring to the verses of the Quran, the actress shared a consolidated belief that “Justice would be served”.
Momina, on May 20, took to social media, claiming that she had been facing online harassment, cyberbullying, and death threats for a long time. In a message shared on her Instagram story, Momina alleged that an MPA Chadhar associated with the PML-N had been issuing threats to her for an extended period. She added that she had repeatedly reported the matter to the NCCIA and the Federal Investigation Agency, but no action was taken.
The actor appealed to CM Maryam, saying she believed the chief minister “will take unbiased and lawful action against anyone found involved in abuse of power or obstruction of justice.”
Three days later, the actor filed a formal complaint with the Lahore police, accusing Chadhar and his alleged accomplices of cyber harassment, criminal intimidation, blackmail, defamatory campaigns and interference in her marriage.
Responding to Momina’s previous call for help, Maryam Nawaz said the matter involving an MPA and a prominent media personality was “a personal issue” and would be addressed strictly on merit and in accordance with the law.
The chief minister further warned against any attempt to exert pressure or misuse influence through threats of releasing personal content, saying any such action would be met with firm and uncompromising action.
