Pakistani Actor-Singer Ali Zafar Wins Defamation Case Linked To #MeToo Allegations By Meesha Shafi, Lahore Court Asks Her To Pay Damages

A court in Lahore has ruled in favour of Pakistani singer and actor Ali Zafar in a defamation case filed against fellow singer Meesha Shafi. The court directed Shafi to pay damages of 5 million Pakistani rupees (approximately $17,900) to Zafar. The case dates back to 2018, when Zafar filed a defamation suit after Shafi accused him of sexual harassment in one of Pakistan’s most discussed cases linked to the global #MeToo movement.

According to reports by Pakistan’s leading daily Dawn, the court held that a social media post shared by Shafi in 2018, along with an interview she gave to a lifestyle magazine, contained “false, defamatory and injurious imputations” against Zafar. The ruling reportedly stated that allegations of sexual harassment of a physical nature had not been proven to be true or made in the public interest, and therefore amounted to defamation.

The court also ordered that Shafi be “permanently restrained from repeating, publishing, or causing to be published, directly or indirectly, the aforesaid defamatory allegations of sexual harassment of a physical nature against the plaintiff, in any form of media”.

Shafi’s lawyer, Nighat Dad, confirmed that the decision would be challenged in a higher court. Speaking to Al Jazeera, she said the legal team plans to appeal the ruling in the High Court. “This is far from the end of the road,” Dad said, adding that other legal proceedings related to the case are still ongoing.

Background of the case

The dispute began in April 2018 when Meesha Shafi, now 44, publicly accused Ali Zafar of sexual harassment through a series of posts on X, then known as Twitter. In her statement, she alleged that the incidents had occurred more than once.

“I have been subjected, on more than one occasion, to sexual harassment of a physical nature at the hands of a colleague from my industry: Ali Zafar.”

She also explained why she chose to speak publicly about the matter, writing that she was an “empowered, accomplished woman who is known for speaking her mind!”

Shafi’s posts referenced the global #MeToo movement, which gained worldwide momentum in 2017 when women in industries including Hollywood began sharing their experiences of harassment following allegations against former film producer Harvey Weinstein.

Within hours of Shafi’s allegations, Ali Zafar responded on X, rejecting the claims and stating that he would pursue legal action.

“I categorically deny any and all claims of harassment lodged against me by Ms Shafi.”

He also said that he would take the matter to court rather than debate it publicly on social media, stating that he intended to address the issue legally instead of “contesting personal vendettas on social media and in turn disrespecting the movement”.

At the time, several Pakistani celebrities and public figures expressed support for Shafi online, and other women also came forward with similar allegations against Zafar.

Ali Zafar and Meesha Shafi were once known to share a friendly professional relationship and are both well-known figures in Pakistan’s entertainment industry. Shafi had also appeared in a cameo role in a music video from Zafar’s debut album in 2003.