LAHORE (Entertainment Desk) – Renowned singer Meesha Shafi on Wednesday approached the Lahore High Court, filing an appeal against a civil court decree that directed her to pay Rs5 million in damages to fellow artist Ali Zafar in a high-profile defamation case stemming from sexual harassment allegations.
The appeal, submitted through Advocate Saqib Jilani, challenges the March 31, 2026 judgment of an additional district and sessions court, arguing that the trial court committed significant legal and factual errors while deciding the matter. The impugned decree had ruled in favour of Ali Zafar, concluding that Meesha Shafi failed to substantiate her allegations with sufficient and credible evidence.
In her petition, Shafi has taken the position that the trial court prematurely adjudicated the defamation claim despite the underlying sexual harassment allegations remaining unresolved on their merits. The appeal stresses that her original complaint is still pending before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which granted leave to hear the matter in January 2021.
The appellant further clarified that her earlier attempts to seek redress through institutional forums — including the ombudsperson, the governor, and even the high court — were dismissed primarily on jurisdictional grounds, rather than on a factual evaluation of the allegations. As such, she contends that no competent forum has yet conclusively determined the truth or falsity of her claims.
A central argument raised in the appeal is that her allegations constituted a lawful exercise of her right to seek justice and should be protected under the legal doctrine of qualified privilege. This principle, according to the petition, shields individuals from defamation liability when statements are made in good faith within a legal or public interest context.
The appeal also criticizes the trial court for allegedly failing to properly assess the evidence presented. It argues that the court overlooked the civil standard of proof — the “preponderance of probabilities” — which requires a determination based on which side’s version appears more likely than not. According to Shafi, a correct application of this standard would have supported the credibility of her claims.
Moreover, the petition challenges the interpretation of Section 3 of the Defamation Ordinance, 2002, asserting that the respondent failed to meet the legal threshold required to establish defamation. It emphasizes that the law mandates proof that the statements in question were false, and that an allegation being “unproven” does not automatically render it “false.” The appeal cites established legal precedents to support this distinction.
Another key point raised in the appeal concerns the treatment of testimony in sexual harassment cases. Shafi’s legal team argues that the trial court disregarded well-settled principles which recognize that a victim’s statement, if found credible, can be sufficient evidence. The petition accuses the lower court of relying on stereotypical assumptions about how a victim of harassment is expected to behave, thereby misinterpreting the evidence.
The appeal also disputes the trial court’s reliance on the continued professional and social interaction between the parties as a factor undermining the harassment claims. It argues that such interactions do not negate the possibility of harassment, particularly in cases where misconduct may be subtle, complex, or not immediately reported due to professional constraints.
The legal battle traces back to 2018, when Meesha Shafi publicly accused Ali Zafar of sexual harassment through a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The allegations sparked widespread debate and became one of Pakistan’s most prominent #MeToo cases.
In response, Ali Zafar filed a defamation suit the same year, claiming that the accusations had caused irreparable damage to his reputation, career, and family life. He sought damages amounting to Rs1 billion and requested the court to declare the allegations false.
The recent civil court ruling partially granted relief to Zafar by awarding Rs5 million in damages, setting the stage for the current appeal. The Lahore High Court is now expected to examine the legal arguments raised by Shafi and determine whether the earlier judgment warrants reconsideration.
The case continues to draw significant public and legal attention, as it touches on critical issues including defamation law, women’s rights, and the evidentiary standards applicable in harassment cases within Pakistan’s judicial system.
