LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s cybercrime wing has booked 11 individuals, including journalists and vloggers, for allegedly defaming filmstar and stage actress Nargis on social media platforms.

The FIA cybercrime wing has booked journalists and vloggers -- Salman Qureshi, Jawad Shah, Sheraz Nisar, Zunaira Maham, Nigar Chaudhry, Abida Usmani, Mahreen Sibtain, Bilal Zafar, Atif Malik and Shakeel Zahid – and actress and dancer Maryam Ali Hussain under PECA’s sections 11, 20, 21 (d), 24 r/w 500, 109 of PPC.

Ghazala ldrees alias Nargis in her complaint alleged the above persons launched a campaign aimed at tarnishing her image, defaming her and causing harm to her dignity and modesty.

According to the FIR, the individuals in question had been actively spreading false, misleading and defamatory statements against her on social media platforms.

“They have aired interviews and published posts that include derogatory remarks, suggesting baseless assertions that aim to harm Nargis’ image. They used sexually explicit language against her causing sadistic and masochistic abuse. In online interviews, these individuals have also falsely accused her of drug use. These interviews are clearly designed to humiliate and harm her image.”

Nargis demanded “strict action against the culprits”.

The FIA says during the course of inquiry, the complainant provided relevant material in support of her allegations.

The Lahore Press Club has condemned the FIR against the journalists demanding its quashment at once.

It said the journalists would hold demonstrations outside the FIA cybercrime wing building if it did not stop targeting the working journalists on different pretexts.

Actress Nargis was allegedly subjected to torture by her husband, Majid Bashir, a police inspector, in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) last month. She alleged that she was subjected to torture by Bashir when she refused to transfer her property in his name.

Nargis alleged in the FIR with police that her husband wanted to accommodate the former wife of a famous TV host in her (Nargis’) house without her consent.

She also alleged that Bashir wanted her to transfer the ownership of her farmhouse in his name.

“Majid Bashir repeatedly hit my face with his official gun, leaving bruises, particularly, in and around my eyes. He wants to grab a valuable nine-kanal plot, gold ornaments and other properties belonging to me, at gunpoint,” she said and alleged that the suspect also planned her murder and warned her that he would put the blame on her enemies.

The suspect is currently on pre-arrest bail.

It was the second incident of torture of Nargis reported in Lahore.

Earlier, she was beaten black and blue allegedly by dismissed police inspector Abid (boxer) in 2002 when she was at the peak of her acting career.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2024