In a notable legal ruling, a sessions court in Lahore has determined that singer Meesha Shafi did not fulfill the burden of proof required to support her harassment allegations against Ali Zafar. The decision was delivered through a comprehensive 155-page verdict by Additional Sessions Judge Asif Hayat, who concluded that the responsibility to provide evidence rested solely with Shafi.
The court underscored that when serious accusations are made publicly, the accuser must substantiate their claims rather than expecting the accused to disprove them. This principle was central to the defamation case brought by Ali Zafar.
The judgment detailed several key findings. Firstly, the court found that Shafi failed to present sufficient evidence to validate her harassment claims, which was critical since the legal onus was on her to prove the truthfulness of her statements. Secondly, although Shafi maintained that her tweets and interviews were intended to serve the public interest, the court ruled she did not demonstrate that her allegations were made for public welfare. Instead, the court determined that her statements primarily harmed Ali Zafar’s reputation.
Notably, the judge highlighted the higher standard applied to public figures in such cases. While victims of harassment often remain silent, Shafi’s decision to air her accusations on public platforms increased her obligation to substantiate her claims with credible proof.
As a result, the court classified Shafi’s statements as defamatory and imposed a financial penalty of Rs 5 million (50 lakh) in damages. Beyond the monetary fine, the court issued a strict injunction preventing her from making any further harassment allegations against Ali Zafar, whether directly or indirectly, through any channel.
The verdict emphasized the significant damage caused to Ali Zafar’s reputation by these unproven claims, reiterating that since Shafi chose to publicize the allegations under the guise of public interest, the entire burden of proof was hers to bear.
