Meesha Shafi challenges Rs5m defamation ruling against Ali Zafar in LHC appeal

Singer's counsel argues that the trial court erred in its judgment

LAHORE:

Ali Zafar’s defamation suit against Meesha Shafi entered a new phase on Wednesday as Meesha challenged the Rs5 million damages ruling in the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Lahore's sessions court on March 31 ruled in favour of Zafar, ordering Meesha to pay Rs5 million in damages. Zafar had filed a defamation claim of Rs1 billion against Meesha after she accused him of sexual harassment, with the case having spanned over eight years.

Meesha, through her counsel, filed an appeal in LHC against the session court’s verdict, arguing that the trial court erred in its judgment. While it concluded Meesha failed to prove her allegations, it did not require Zafar to establish that no harassment occurred.

The petition further highlighted that Meesha had previously approached the provincial ombudsperson on harassment, but her complaint was dismissed.

Also Read: Lahore court orders Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5m to Ali Zafar in defamation case

It added that her appeal against the ombudsperson’s decision remains pending before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and contends that the defamation decree should not have been issued until a final ruling is delivered.

Meesha had requested the high court to set aside the trial court’s decision, maintaining that the lower court failed to properly assess the facts of the case.

Throughout the eight-year period, nine judges were changed, and 283 hearings were held. A total of 20 witnesses were called to testify, and their statements were recorded.

During the final session, both sides’ legal teams presented their closing arguments. The court had previously recorded the statements of the 20 witnesses, and cross-examinations were also completed.

Read More: Meesha Shafi asks court to dismiss Ali Zafar’s defamation suit

In 2018, Zafar filed the defamation suit through his counsel Rana Intizar, demanding Rs1 billion in damages. Intizar contended that Meesha had damaged the reputation of his client with “baseless allegations”. He pleaded that the court direct Meesha to tender an unconditional apology and pay Rs1 billion in damages.

Zafar had previously sent a legal notice to Meesha stating that her tweets, dated April 19, 2018, were “false, slanderous, and defamatory” and “caused tremendous injury to the plaintiff’s reputation, goodwill, and livelihood.”

The trial court had originally imposed a gag order on January 24, 2019, following Zafar’s defamation suit. Meesha’s subsequent appeal to the LHC had been dismissed.

In 2021, the Supreme Court accepted Meesha’s petition filed against the LHC order for the preliminary hearing. After hearing the arguments, the apex court remarked that the points raised by the petitioner must be reviewed, and clubbed the case with the suo motu notice taken to define sexual harassment, also pending in the court.