Lahore court expected to announce verdict in Ali Zafar’s defamation suit against Meesha Shafi today

The Lahore sessions court on Monday concluded the hearing of a Rs1 billion defamation case filed by singer-cum-actor Ali Zafar against fellow singer Meesha Shafi on allegations of sexual harassment.

The hearing was conducted by Additional District and Sessions Judge Asif Hayat, who remarked that a thorough examination of the entire record would have to be conducted before announcing a verdict.

The verdict, he further remarked, would be announced on Tuesday (today) if concluded within court hours, otherwise, a new date for its announcement would be issued.

Last week, lawyers of both parties, the plaintiff and defendant, concluded their arguments.

The lawyer, Umar Tariq Gill, representing Ali Zafar, contended before the court that Meesha Shafi levelled false allegations against Ali Zafar, damaging his reputation.

He argued that no one, apart from Meesha, had leveled such charges against Ali. He requested that the court allow the defamation case and direct the defendant to pay damages to the plaintiff, amounting to Rs1bn.

Saqib Jilani, a legal attorney, represented Meesha and requested that the court dismiss the defamation case at a cost.

While making his closing arguments, he contended that no evidence was brought forward to prove his client's defamation charges.

He added that his client, Meesha, had leveled various charges of alleged harassment, and she was consistent in her statements, even after an extensive cross-examination by Ali Zafar's legal team.

The legal attorney added that his client cannot be punished for raising a voice on her alleged grievance through a defamation case filed by the plaintiff.

In his defamation case, Ali Zafar had stated in 2018 that the charges of alleged sexual harassment leveled by Meesha had damaged his reputation in public, and his family was going through pain and agony.

He requested that a decree be issued against Meesha, directing her to pay Rs1bn to him as damages.