It was reported that Pakistani singer Meesha Shafi could be facing a jail term of three years in the defamation case filed against her by colleague Ali Zafar, whom she accused of sexual harassment "on more than one occasion," in 2018. Zafar had alleged Shafi was running a smear campaign against her on false charges.
Reports said Shafi's lawyers will challenge the case further in court to fight for truth and encourage other survivors to speak up against harassment. However, her lawyers have rubbished claims of a prison sentence, saying, "No such verdict has been passed by trial court in the frivolous criminal defamation case instituted by Ali Zafar against several women."
Lawyer Asad Jamal's statement further reads, "The court has not even indicted any of the several men and women accused by Ali Zafar of spreading falsehood... We are confident that the prosecution's case cannot succeed."
Meesha Shafi, Three Years Since Accusations
Meesha Shafi, who is currently in Canada, had come out with her story in 2018 on Twitter. "Ali is someone I have known for many years and someone who I have shared the stage with. I feel betrayed by his behaviour and his attitude and I know that I am not alone," she Sharing this because I believe that by speaking out about my own experience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out.. but it is harder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore #MeToo pic.twitter.com/iwex7e1NLZ
— MEESHA SHAFI (@itsmeeshashafi) April 19, 2018 "This happened to me despite the fact that I am an empowered, accomplished woman who is known for speaking her mind."
The incident she spoke of dated back to 2017, where she said during the prep for a concert the two were performing together, Zafar groped her at his recording studio.
The Mere Brother Ki Dulhan actor had "categorically denied all claims of harassment" and slapped a defamation suit of Rs 1 billion on Shafi. He has claimed it is a "motivated conspiracy" to tarnish his "good image." Zafar is a prominent member of the Pakistan film and entertainment industry and has even previously worked in Bollywood.
In the aftermath of Shafi's allegations, other women too have accused Zafar of sexual misconduct, most notably make-up artist Leena Ghani. She claimed Zafar harassed her in December 2014, during a fashion event in London. Full story here.
Zafar has filed complaints against Meesha Shafi, Iffat Omar, Leena Ghani, Fariha Ayub, Maham Javaid, Ali Gul, Haseemuz Zaman Khan, Humna Raza, and Syed Faizan Raza for the alleged smear campaign against him.
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