Singer Meesha Shafi has challenged a trial court’s verdict in the defamation case filed by Ali Zafar, seeking to have the compensation order against her set aside.
According to details, Meesha Shafi has filed an appeal in the Lahore High Court against the lower court’s decision in the defamation suit initiated by Ali Zafar.
In her petition, Shafi raised several legal objections to the trial court’s ruling, arguing that the facts of the case and relevant law were not properly assessed.
She maintained that allegations of sexual harassment cannot be declared “false” until a final decision on their merits is reached.
The petition further informed the court that the primary sexual harassment case is still pending before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and therefore issuing a verdict in the defamation case at this stage was legally premature.
Meesha Shafi has requested the Lahore High Court to nullify the lower court’s order directing her to pay damages to Ali Zafar and declare the trial court’s verdict unlawful.
Ali Zafar and Meesha Shafi
The sessions court in Lahore announced a major decision in the defamation case made by singer Ali Zafar against another singer, Meesha Shafi, on Tuesday.
Additional Sessions Judge Asif Hayat delivered the reserved judgment. Where the court ordered Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages.
Ali Zafar had originally filed a defamation claim worth Rs1 billion after Meesha Shafi accused him of sexual harassment.
In his defamation case filed in 2018, Ali Zafar said that Meesha’s sexual harassment allegations had damaged his public image and caused pain and distress to his family.
Ali Zafar later spoke up on X after winning the defamation case against the singer and actress Meesha Shafi on Thursday.
The singer took to the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, and stated that he is “Grateful to God and to everyone who stood by me and by the truth during some testing times in my life.”
Further, he added that justice has finally been done. “I feel no triumph, only humility and gratitude,” he added in his statement.
He stated that he does not possess any ill feelings towards anyone. “For me, this chapter is now closed. I pray we can all move forward with grace and peace,” Ali Zafar concluded.
The statement has been received well by the netizens. One commented, “Ali Bhai, first of all, congratulations on your honourable achievement.”
Also read: Ali Zafar opens up after winning defamation case against Meesha Shafi
