LAHORE, Mar 31 (APP):A sessions court on Tuesday partly decreed the defamation suit filed by singer-actor Ali Zafar against Meesha Shafi, ordering Meesha Shafi to pay Rs 5 million in damages to Ali Zafar. In a short order, the court declared that Meesha Shafi’s April 19, 2018 tweet and an interview published on April 21, 2018 contained false, defamatory and injurious allegations against Ali Zafar. The court held that the …
Court rules in Ali Zafar’s favor in defamation case against Meesha Shafi
LAHORE, Mar 31 (APP):A sessions court on Tuesday partly decreed the defamation suit filed by singer-actor Ali Zafar against Meesha Shafi, ordering Meesha Shafi to pay Rs 5 million in damages to Ali Zafar.
In a short order, the court declared that Meesha Shafi’s April 19, 2018 tweet and an interview published on April 21, 2018 contained false, defamatory and injurious allegations against Ali Zafar.
The court held that the allegations of sexual harassment of a physical nature were not proven to be true or made in the public interest, and therefore constituted actionable defamation.
The court stated that Ali Zafar was entitled to compensation for injury to reputation, dignity and mental anguish. However, the court observed that the claim for special damages was not established through reliable evidence, and therefore awarded Rs 5 million as general damages instead of the Rs1 billion sought in the suit.
The court also permanently restrained Meesha Shafi from repeating, publishing, or causing publication of the same allegations in print, electronic or social media.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Asif Hayat announced the short order on the Rs 1 billion defamation suit filed by Ali Zafar in 2018, bringing to a close litigation that continued for eight years.
The court had concluded hearing on Monday, indicating that the final verdict would likely be announced on Tuesday.
During final arguments last week, Ali Zafar’s counsel Umar Tariq Gill argued that the sexual harassment allegations had damaged his client’s reputation and maintained that no witness had substantiated the claims, requesting the court to award Rs 1 billion in damages.
Counsel for Meesha Shafi, Saqib Jillani, argued that sexual harassment cases often rely on the victim’s testimony and trauma rather than eyewitness accounts, citing superior court precedents.
In the defamation suit, Ali Zafar stated that the allegations made by Meesha Shafi had harmed his public image and caused distress to him and his family. He requested the court to decree the suit in his favor and direct Meesha Shafi to pay Rs 1 billion in damages after she accused him in 2018 of sexually harassing her on multiple occasions.
During the proceedings, Ali Zafar presented 13 witnesses in support of his claim, while Meesha Shafi produced seven witnesses. A total of nine judges were changed during the trial, and 283 hearings were held before the verdict was announced.
