In a recent development that brings closure to one of Pakistan’s most closely followed celebrity legal battles, a sessions court in Lahore has ruled in favour of Ali Zafar in his long-standing defamation case against fellow artist Meesha Shafi.
The verdict, announced on Tuesday by Additional Sessions Judge Asif Hayat, directs Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages to Zafar. The court concluded that the allegations levelled against him were defamatory, marking the end of a case that has stretched across more than eight years.
The dispute traces back to 2018, when Meesha Shafi publicly accused Zafar of sexual harassment, sparking widespread debate and becoming a defining moment for Pakistan’s #MeToo movement. In response, Zafar filed a defamation suit worth Rs1 billion, asserting that the claims had severely damaged his reputation, career, and livelihood.
Over the years, the case evolved into a prolonged legal saga. Court proceedings saw the replacement of nine judges, while a total of 283 hearings were conducted. Testimonies from 20 witnesses were recorded, with extensive cross-examinations carried out before both sides presented their final arguments.
Representing Zafar, his counsel argued that the accusations were baseless and had inflicted lasting harm on the singer’s public image. The legal team also sought an unconditional apology alongside financial compensation.
