The Lahore sessions court has issued a detailed verdict in singer Ali Zafar’s defamation case, ruling that allegations made by Meesha Shafi could not be proven.
In a long-awaited decision, a Lahore court has delivered its detailed judgement in the high-profile Ali Zafar–Meesha Shafi case. The ruling addresses years of legal proceedings and allegations that drew nationwide attention.
Lahore Additional District and Sessions Judge Asif Hayat issued a detailed written verdict in the defamation case. The judgement spans 196 pages, although reports also noted a 159-page written decision, outlining the court’s findings and conclusions.
The case centered on allegations made by Meesha Shafi against singer Ali Zafar in April 2018.
Allegations could not be proven
The court ruled that the sexual harassment allegation levelled by Meesha Shafi on April 21, 2018, was not proven. According to the verdict, the claims made through her tweet were found to be false.
The court concluded that Ali Zafar suffered mental anguish as a result of these allegations.
The court ordered Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages to Ali Zafar. Additionally, the verdict directed that Meesha Shafi should not repeat such allegations against Ali Zafar on any platform in the future.
In its detailed ruling, the court examined the social and educational background of both individuals. It noted that Ali Zafar is a well-known singer in Pakistan and that no previous allegations of this nature had ever been made against him.
The verdict also highlighted that Ali Zafar is married and has two children.
Details about Meesha Shafi
The court acknowledged that Meesha Shafi is also a highly educated and well-known artist. It noted that she is married and a mother of two children.
According to the verdict, Meesha Shafi had claimed that Ali Zafar harassed her on three occasions.
The judgement outlined Meesha Shafi’s legal attempts to pursue her complaint. She first approached the Punjab Ombudsman in 2018 with allegations of sexual harassment. However, the Ombudsman dismissed her application.
Appeals rejected at multiple levels
Following the Ombudsman’s decision, Meesha Shafi approached the Punjab governor. Her application was again rejected. She then filed an appeal in the Lahore High Court, which also dismissed her case.
The sessions court concluded that the allegations remained unproven despite being pursued through multiple legal forums. It emphasised that no prior accusations of a similar nature had been made against Ali Zafar.
The ruling ultimately held that the claims caused reputational damage and mental distress to the singer.
