A sessions court in Lahore has ruled in favour of singer and actor Ali Zafar in one of Pakistan’s most talked-about legal battles. The court ordered Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages after finding that her sexual harassment allegations against Zafar were unproven.
The case spanned over eight years, during which nine judges were changed and 283 hearings were held. A total of 20 witnesses were called to testify. Zafar had originally filed a defamation claim of Rs1 billion, but the court awarded Rs5 million, significantly less than the amount claimed.
The court also restrained Shafi from repeating the allegations on any platform, including electronic, print, and social media.
Meesha responded calmly on social media, writing that not every victory comes from a court decision. She said that when a woman finds the courage to speak up, that itself is a victory. Her mother, actress Saba Hameed, also stated that they do not accept defeat.
The verdict marks a significant moment in Pakistan’s #MeToo movement, reigniting debate about the importance of evidence in sensitive harassment cases and the challenges women face when speaking out.
The case began in April 2018 when Meesha publicly accused Ali Zafar of harassment on social media, making it one of Pakistan’s first major #MeToo stories.
