Demand apology and ask the academic to remove all content within the stipulated period or face legal consequences
Religious scholar Allama Nasir Madani and actress Momina Iqbal. Photo: Archives
Actress Momina Iqbal on Wednesday sent a legal notice to religious scholar Nasir Madani demanding Rs 190 crore in damages, retraction of statement and public apology within a week for allegedly derogatory comments shared through a Meta video that went viral recently.
In the widely circulated video, the academic allegedly described the actress as “satanic” and “greedy”, accusing her of accepting various financial benefits before leveling harassment allegations against Punjab MPA Saqib Chadhar.
The notice emphasized and highlighted that the statements seriously damaged Momina’s reputation, caused mental agony and encouraged public defamation.
The legal notice, sent through lawyer Adnan Ahsan Khan, claimed that comments made by Madani on June 14 and 15 about the actor were “highly defamatory, scandalous, humiliating and derogatory” and that the academic repeatedly attacked his character in social media messages.
According to the notice, comments constitute an offense under the Defamation Ordinance 2002, Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and Pakistan Penal Code 1860.
The notice asked Madani to publicly retract the statements, apologize and remove all nefarious content on Momina within the stipulated time or face legal consequences.
“I will not forgive you”
Before issuing the legal notice, Momina slammed Madani’s comments in an Instagram story and said she would not forgive him.
“Accusations leveled against someone without evidence that damage a person’s honor are grave sins according to Islam,” he said.
Referring to verses from the Quran, the actress shared a long-held belief that “justice will be done.”
On May 20, Momina took to social media and claimed 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 AMP Chadhar associated with the PML-N had been threatening her for a long period. He added that he had repeatedly reported the matter to the NCCIA and the Federal Investigation Agency, but no action was taken.
The actor appealed to CM Maryam and said he believed the prime minister “will take impartial 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 cyberbullying, criminal intimidation, blackmail, smear campaigns and interference in his marriage.
Responding to Momina’s earlier call for help, Maryam Nawaz said the matter involving an MPA and a prominent media personality was “a personal matter” and would be dealt with strictly on merit and in accordance with the law.
The Prime Minister further warned against any attempt to exert pressure or misuse influence through threats to publish personal content, and said any such action would be met with firm and uncompromising action.
