The Punjab Bar Council (PbBC) disciplinary committee on Wednesday restrained the lawyers representing both actor Momina Iqbal and PML-N MPA Saqib Chadhar from discussing their case in the media.
During proceedings on the complaints filed by the lawyers representing both parties against each other, the committee’s chairman, Abbas Ali Chadhar, remarked that a dispute between two private individuals had been turned into an issue of personal ego by the advocates.
Momina’s sister and counsel, Advocate Rimsha Iqbal and MPA Chadhar’s counsel, Mian Ali Ashfaq, personally appeared before the committee.
The committee chairman instructed both sides that no lawyer associated with the case should make statements to the media regarding the matter.
The committee also directed Mr Ashfaq to produce his Bar-at-Law degree.
During the hearing, Mr Ashfaq raised an objection regarding Rimsha Iqbal’s professional status, alleging that she had been employed in Australia despite being enrolled as a lawyer. He said legal practitioners are not permitted to hold such employment under the rules.
The committee chairman asked Advocate Rimsha how many media interviews she had given while wearing a lawyer’s uniform. She replied that she had participated in six to seven interviews.
Advocate Rimsha further told the committee that she had stood by her sister, Momina, because of their family relationship. She maintained that the allegations levelled against her were baseless.
She also clarified that while studying in Australia, she had worked additional hours on a part-time basis during her studies.
Earlier, MPA Chadhar also appeared before the committee and defended his counsel, Mr Ashfaq.
He said his lawyer made comments outside the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) office on his instructions.
Advocate Ashfaq also questioned why an application had been filed seeking suspension of his licence merely for assisting and representing his client.
“Can a lawyer pass on everything a client says to the media?” the chairman asked, adding, “Don’t you think there should be limits on what a lawyer can say?”
Mr Ashfaq argued that the role of a lawyer varies from case to case and that counsel is required to responsibly convey a client’s position.
The chairman also took exception to use of the term “honey trap” during a press briefing by the MPA’s counsel and asked whether such language was appropriate.
The NCCIA had registered an FIR on a complaint of actor Momina Iqbal against MPA Chadhar on charges of sexual harassment and blackmailing. However, the MPA secured pre-arrest bail in the case.
Originally published in Dawn , June 11th, 2026
