Actor Nazish Jahangir’s pre-arrest bail plea dismissed for failing to attend hearing

A Lahore sessions court dismissed on Friday actor Nazish Jahangir’s petition requesting interim bail for failing to appear in court. An FIR was filed against her, accusing her of committing fraud.

The FIR, filed by fellow actor Aswad Haroon, invoked Section 420 of the Pakistan Penal Code which pertains to cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property. It alleged that Jahangir, who knew Haroon through the entertainment industry, asked to borrow his car and Rs2.5 million for two months for a project, but failed to return it despite six months passing.

Haroon claimed that Jahangir asked to meet him at a farmhouse to return the car’s papers but failed to show up and instead sent a man named Sikandar Khan who threatened him with weapons. The FIR stated that Khan threatened to kill Haroon if he ever reached out to Jahangir again.

Haroon requested that the police take action, return his belongings and offer him protection.

In response, Jahangir filed a petition requesting pre-arrest bail. The petition stated that the FIR was registered with “malafide intention and for ulterior motives just to humiliate and harass the petitioner”.

“The petitioner, if arrested, will be humiliated, therefore instant bail petition is being filed,” it read.

However, the court dismissed Jahangir’s plea on Friday due to “non-prosecution”. According to the court order, “Despite repeated calls with different intervals, [no one] has appeared before the court on behalf of the petitioner.”

Jahangir and Haroon appeared in a 2023 telefilm called Aatish-e-Ishq alongside Saba Faisal.