Shehzad Ghiaz fears arrest in defamation suit filed by Maria B

According to Ghias, the dispute stems from his past commentary on Maria B and issues involving influencers.

Web Desk

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19 Jun 2025

Pakistani comedian, YouTuber, and podcaster Shehzad Ghias Shaikh feard that he may face arrest or detention next week in connection with a defamation case initiated by fashion designer Maria B, reportedly being pursued through the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Ghias revealed that he had received a court summons for Monday.

"I don’t even know why I’ve been summoned. No case file or charge sheet has been shared with me,” he said, expressing concern that a First Information Report (FIR) may have been registered by the FIA and forwarded to the court.

According to Ghias, the dispute stems from his past commentary on Maria B and issues involving influencers.

He stated that while Maria B initially sent him a civil legal notice for defamation, she later escalated the matter to criminal proceedings via the FIA. He termed this move "disproportionate" and accused her of attempting to suppress critical voices.

"They skipped the civil process entirely and directly involved the FIA," Ghias stated, maintaining that his remarks constituted fair commentary and did not meet the legal standard for defamation under Pakistani law.

Ghias further clarified that he had never launched a targeted smear campaign nor intentionally defamed anyone. "In fact, I didn’t even mention her name in recent videos. If I wanted to cause damage, I could have — but I chose not to,” he asserted.

Calling the development part of a broader trend, Ghias criticized what he described as "elite culture" in Pakistan, where influential individuals allegedly misuse state institutions to silence criticism. "The privileged in this country believe they can weaponize the FIA and courts to stifle dissent," he added.