Court defers hearing in Maria B’s legal case against Shehzad Ghias
Photo: FILE
A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday adjourned proceedings in a defamation case filed by designer Maria B against comedian Shehzad Ghias Sheikh.
The case was heard by Additional Sessions Judge Sheikh Muhammad Sohail.
Representing Maria B, Barrister Abdul Ahad Khokhar urged the court to restrain Shehzad from posting further tweets and videos, arguing that the ongoing content amounted to harmful propaganda while the case remains sub judice.
Read: Maria B weighs in on farshi shalwar fashion trend
“It is necessary to restrict him from social media commentary until the matter is resolved,” said Khokhar during the hearing.
Defence counsel Imaan Mazari along with Hadi Ali Chattha, appearing on behalf of Shehzad , informed the court that the power of attorney would be submitted at the next hearing.
The court directed both parties to submit their written replies and scheduled arguments on the stay application for the next session. The hearing was adjourned until July 14.
Later after the hearing, Shehzad posted a tweet reading simply with an emoji: “🤐” a zipped-mouth face.
— Shehzad Ghias Shaikh (@Shehzad89) June 23, 2025
Previously, Shehzad published a video on his YouTube channel stating that he had received a court summons for Monday’s proceedings but had yet to receive formal details of the case or specific charges.
He said he suspected a First Information Report (FIR) may have been filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and subsequently forwarded to the court.
Shehzad explained that the legal action originated from a civil defamation notice issued by Maria B but had escalated to a criminal complaint through the FIA an approach he described as excessive and aimed at curbing dissent.
He maintained that his critical remarks were opinion-based and did not meet the legal threshold for defamation under Pakistani law.
Read more: Maria B responds to criticism from Aurat March Lahore organisers
He also said the case appeared to be linked to his past commentary and content discussing Maria B and broader issues concerning influencers, though he denied orchestrating any campaign of personal attacks.
Following his video, Maria B responded in a post on her Instagram account. The video compiled excerpts from Shehzad’s podcast , where he interviewed transgender rights activist Shehzadi Rai.
In the clip, Shehzad refers to Maria B as a “D-grade designer” and accuses her of using the suffering of transgender individuals to promote her brand. Rai adds that Maria B also exploited the issue of Palestine for commercial gain.
The video also features Shehzad stating that a mob should attend one of Maria B’s fashion shows, disrupt the event, and declare western clothing as haram, even suggesting that her garments be burned.
Maria B vowed not to stay silent and confirmed that a civil notice had been issued and added that she would now pursue criminal defamation as well.
Also read: Maria B in hot water again as Turkish influencer Turkan Atay alleges unpaid brand deal
In late April 2025, Maria B faced a separate controversy involving a Turkish influencer. Content creator Türkan Atay accused the Maria B of failing to fulfil an agreed compensation arrangement following a promotional shoot in Istanbul.
In a social media video, Türkan said the brand had accepted a “per outfit” pricing model that factored in videography, location, and editing. “They even agreed to it. I have all the messages,” she said.
After the content was delivered, Türkan claimed the brand shifted its stance, offering payment on a “per reel” basis instead. “They told me, ‘Oh, sorry. There’s been a misunderstanding. We pay international influencers per reel,’” she recalled.
Maria B responded through an Instagram Story, calling the situation “a regrettable misunderstanding” and denying any failure to pay. “In our 25 years, we have neither withheld payment nor retracted from our commitments,” the statement read, citing a long-standing record of fair influencer collaborations.