Ali Zafar Wins Defamation Case, Meesha Shafi Fined Rs5 Million
News Desk
Lahore: A sessions court in Lahore on Tuesday announced its verdict in a long-running defamation case, directing singer Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages to Ali Zafar.
Additional Sessions Judge Asif Hayat delivered the reserved judgement, concluding a high-profile legal battle that spanned several years.
The case originated in 2018 when Ali Zafar filed a defamation suit seeking Rs1 billion in damages after Meesha Shafi publicly accused him of sexual harassment. Zafar consistently denied the allegations, maintaining they were aimed at harming his reputation.
During the course of the trial, statements of 20 witnesses were recorded across 284 hearings, with the case passing through nine judges before reaching its conclusion.
Family response as case concludes
Ahead of the verdict, veteran actress Saba Hameed, Meesha Shafi’s mother, had been attending court proceedings on her daughter’s behalf, as Shafi is currently residing in Canada.
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Speaking to the media outside the court prior to the decision, Saba Hameed said the family had been contesting the case for nearly eight years and would continue to stand by their position.
“We have been fighting this case for the last eight years and will not admit defeat,” she remarked, while declining to comment in detail due to the pending verdict at the time.
Background of the dispute
Ali Zafar and Meesha Shafi, both prominent figures in Pakistan’s entertainment industry, were once known to share a cordial relationship and had collaborated professionally, including in the song ‘Chal Dil Mere’.
However, their relationship turned contentious in April 2018 when Shafi levelled allegations of harassment against Zafar, sparking a widely publicised legal and social debate.
Zafar and his family rejected the claims, terming them baseless.
The case remained under litigation for years, reflecting the complexity and sensitivity of the matter, before the court delivered its final ruling this week.
