The Speaker of the Punjab Assembly has strongly condemned and expunged derogatory remarks made against actress and model Momina Iqbal on the assembly floor by an MPA, branding the comments highly discriminatory and prejudiced. The legislative intervention comes amid an escalating controversy following serious legal allegations levelled by the actress against another provincial lawmaker.
During a recent parliamentary session, MPA Nadeem Qureshi drew sharp criticism from the chair after invoking the actress’s name in a dismissive manner during a heated floor debate on political representation. Mocking the opposition’s stance, Qureshi questioned, “Will Momina Iqbal do it? Will Chahat Fateh Ali Khan then do political talk?”
Interrupting the proceedings immediately, the Speaker demanded a retraction from Qureshi, stating, “She is a very respectable member of the showbiz industry and does excellent work. This is highly discriminatory and prejudiced. Will you look at things through a biased lens? Take your words back”.
The Speaker subsequently ordered the remarks to be deleted from the official assembly record, reiterating that no personal targets should be named on the floor.
The parliamentary backlash coincides with significant legal developments, as Momina Iqbal formally filed a complaint with the Chung Police on Friday seeking a FIR [First Information Report] against PML-N MPA Saqib Chadhar. In her application, Iqbal levelled serious allegations of blackmail, harassment, and death threats against Chadhar.
The parliamentary backlash coincides with rapidly unfolding legal and personal developments for the actress. Following her initial complaint to the Chung Police, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officially registered a criminal case under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) against PML-N MPA Saqib Chadhar for cyberbullying and blackmail.
Shortly after the case registration, Iqbal tied the knot with Lahore-based businessman Hamza Habib in late May 2026, a move that drew public support from her new spouse but also sparked a highly critical online video reaction titled “Ab Yaad Aaya?” from religious scholar Allama Nasir Madni, which recently prompted the actress to dispatch a formal legal notice to the cleric. Following the notice, Madni clarified that his comments were intended as general moral advice rather than a targeted personal attack.
