Court orders Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5m in damages to Ali Zafar

LAHORE: A sessions court on Tuesday ruled in favour of singer-actor Ali Zafar in a high-profile defamation case, ordering fellow artist Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages over allegations of sexual harassment that the court found unproven.

In a short order, the court held that Shafi’s social media post and a subsequent interview contained “false, defamatory and injurious imputations” against Zafar. The ruling stated that the allegations of physical sexual harassment were not substantiated through evidence nor shown to have been made in the public interest, thereby constituting actionable defamation under the law.

The court observed that the claims had caused reputational harm, mental anguish and damage to dignity for the plaintiff. While Zafar had originally sought Rs1 billion in damages in his 2018 suit, the court noted that claims for special damages were not supported by sufficient evidence and therefore awarded Rs5 million as general compensatory damages.

“Accordingly, a sum of Rs5,000,000 is awarded to the plaintiff as general damages only, recoverable from the defendant,” the order stated.

In addition to the monetary penalty, the court imposed a permanent injunction on Shafi, restraining her from repeating or publishing the allegations in any form — including print, electronic, or social media — either directly or indirectly.

The verdict followed the conclusion of arguments by both sides earlier this week. Legal counsel for Zafar had argued that the accusations severely tarnished his public image and subjected him and his family to prolonged distress and reputational harm. They maintained that no other individual had ever made similar allegations against the singer.

On the other hand, Shafi’s legal team contended that she had consistently maintained her stance regarding the alleged incidents and that her statements were based on personal experience. They argued that no concrete evidence had been presented by the plaintiff to justify the defamation claim and urged the court to dismiss the case.

The dispute dates back to 2018, when Meesha Shafi publicly accused Ali Zafar of sexually harassing her on multiple occasions, sparking widespread debate in Pakistan’s entertainment industry and becoming one of the country’s most prominent cases linked to the global #MeToo movement.

With the court’s ruling now delivered, the case marks a significant legal development in one of Pakistan’s most closely followed celebrity disputes, though legal experts note that further appeals could still shape its final outcome.