A sessions court in Lahore has delivered its verdict in the long-standing defamation case filed by singer Ali Zafar against fellow artist Meesha Shafi, directing Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages. The ruling was issued by Additional Sessions Judge Asif Hayat after years of legal proceedings.
The court concluded that Meesha Shafi was unable to provide sufficient evidence to support her allegations against Ali Zafar. The dispute originated in 2018 when Ali Zafar initiated the defamation suit, asserting that false accusations made by Meesha Shafi had severely harmed his reputation. He initially sought Rs1 billion in damages.
Over the span of nearly eight years, the court heard testimonies from both parties and various witnesses, with extensive cross-examinations conducted by their legal representatives. Even after the evidence phase concluded, final arguments extended for several months before the judge reserved the verdict.
In a significant development, the court awarded Rs5 million in damages to Ali Zafar, a sum considerably lower than the originally claimed amount, yet affirming that the allegations against him were unproven. Ali Zafar’s lawyer, Umar Tariq Gill, highlighted that the court dismissed Meesha Shafi’s defense that her claims were made in the public interest, labeling them unsubstantiated.
This judgment marks a major milestone in one of Pakistan’s most prominent defamation cases, effectively bringing to a close years of litigation between the two artists.
The background of this legal conflict dates back to 2018 when Meesha Shafi publicly accused Ali Zafar of harassment via social media posts. These allegations garnered widespread attention and became one of Pakistan’s most high-profile cases linked to the global #MeToo movement.
Ali Zafar vehemently denied the accusations and filed a defamation suit in Lahore, contending that the claims had inflicted significant and lasting damage to his personal reputation, professional career, and standing. He sought both financial compensation and legal remedy, maintaining that the allegations were false and malicious.
Throughout the years, the case has progressed through various judicial stages, including sessions court hearings, appeals, and constitutional petitions in higher courts. Much of the litigation has focused on procedural matters such as jurisdiction, evidence admissibility, and the conduct of the parties during the trial, rather than a definitive ruling on the core defamation claim.
The case remains sub judice with no final decision yet on the defamation itself. It continues to attract considerable public and legal interest due to its significant social, cultural, and legal implications in Pakistan.
