After an eight-year legal battle, the Lahore court has finally given its verdict in the high-profile case between Meesha Shafi and Ali Zafar. The court ruled in favor of Zafar and ordered Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages for defaming him.
The dispute started back in April 2018, when Meesha accused Ali Zafar of sexual harassment on social media. Her allegations quickly made headlines and stirred nationwide debate, turning her into a central figure in Pakistan’s #MeToo conversation. Zafar, however, denied all the claims and responded by filing a defamation suit, seeking Rs1 billion in damages. He argued that Shafi’s statements had harmed his reputation and caused distress to him and his family.
The case went on for almost eight years, moving between nine judges and stretching over 283 hearings. Twenty witnesses gave their statements, and a gag order meant Meesha Shafi couldn’t speak publicly about the allegations for all that time.
Shafi’s lawyers argued that she had only spoken about her own experiences and had consistently maintained her statements despite cross-examination. But the court decided that her posts and interviews contained unproven allegations that were harmful to Zafar’s reputation. As a result, Shafi was ordered to pay Rs5 million in damages and is permanently barred from making similar accusations in any form of media, including social media.
The ruling closes a long and public legal chapter, highlighting how difficult it can be for sexual harassment cases to play out in Pakistan’s courts. While Shafi could still appeal, it would be difficult for her to succeed given the court’s findings.
After nearly a decade, the verdict makes it clear: the court found that Zafar’s reputation was damaged, and Shafi is legally and financially accountable for the statements she made.
Sources: Dawn, Tribune
