ISLAMABAD: The religious scholar Nasir Madani has issued a public apology to actress Momina Iqbal over his controversial statements about her.
The development comes after comments made by Madani in a recent video sparked widespread criticism and gained significant attention on social media.
Nasir Madani made statements regarding Momina Iqbal and Saqib Chadhar in one of his public statements. The video quickly went viral across social media platforms, prompting criticism from many users.
Momina Iqbal initiated legal proceedings, with the matter being pursued by her sister and legal counsel, Ramsha Iqbal.
Nasir Madani reconsidered his earlier position and extended an apology to Momina Iqbal and her family. He stated that if his statements had caused emotional distress or hurt to the actress or her relatives, he sincerely regretted his comments and offered his apologies.
Madani also acknowledged the professional standing of Ramsha Iqbal in the legal field and said that she should continue raising her voice for the rights of women.
He added that protecting the dignity and respect of every daughter in Pakistan is a shared responsibility and stressed that the honour of any woman should never become a subject of controversy.
In this regard, a legal notice had been served on Nasir Madani under Section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance. The scholar allegedly used inappropriate language against the actress in a video message, causing damage to her reputation and public image.
The notice further demanded that Nasir Madani immediately remove all videos related to Momina Iqbal from public platforms, issue an unconditional public apology, and pay compensation amounting to PKR 1.9 billion for the alleged reputational damage caused by his remarks.
The controversy has generated mixed reactions on social media. While some users welcomed the apology as a positive step toward resolving the dispute, others continued to debate the broader issues of responsible public discourse, respect for personal dignity, and accountability for statements made on digital platforms.
The matter has drawn considerable public attention and highlights the growing use of legal avenues to address allegations of defamation and reputational harm in Pakistan’s digital media landscape. Neither party has publicly commented on whether the apology will affect the ongoing legal process.
