LAHORE (Web Desk) -The Lahore High Court on Monday conditionally suspended a lower court’s ruling that had directed Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages to Ali Zafar in a defamation case.
Read also: Meesha Shafi challenges defamation ruling in Lahore High Court over Ali Zafar case
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Ahmad Nadeem Arshad and including Justice Malik Waqar Haider Awan, heard Shafi’s appeal against the sessions court verdict issued on March 31.
During proceedings, Shafi’s counsel requested suspension of the decision and proposed depositing a portion of the damages. While the bench initially insisted on full payment, it later allowed partial compliance, directing Shafi to deposit Rs2.5 million in cash and provide a surety bond for the remaining amount.
Following this arrangement, the court granted interim relief by suspending the damages component of the verdict. However, it maintained the restriction imposed by the trial court, which bars Shafi from repeating or publishing her harassment allegations against Zafar.
The court also issued a notice to Zafar and adjourned the hearing for a later date.
Earlier in March, a sessions court had ruled in favour of Zafar, ordering Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages, stating that her allegations of sexual harassment were not made in the public interest. The judgment also permanently restrained her from repeating the claims in any form of media.
The case stems from allegations made by Shafi in 2018, accusing Zafar of sexual harassment on multiple occasions. Zafar subsequently filed a defamation suit, claiming reputational harm and seeking damages amounting to Rs1 billion.
