In a significant legal development marking the conclusion of an eight-year battle, a Lahore sessions court has ruled in favor of singer-actor Ali Zafar in his defamation suit against fellow artist Meesha Shafi.
Additional Sessions Judge Asif Hayat issued a detailed 159-page verdict on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, ordering Shafi to pay Rs 5 million (PKR 5,000,000) in general damages to Zafar. The court found that Shafi’s 2018 social media posts and subsequent interviews contained “false, defamatory, and injurious imputations” regarding allegations of sexual harassment that were not proven in court.
The legal saga began in April 2018 when Meesha Shafi accused Ali Zafar of physical sexual harassment on multiple occasions. Zafar categorically denied the claims and filed a Rs 1 billion defamation suit under the Defamation Ordinance 2002, citing irreparable damage to his reputation, career, and mental peace.
Key Highlights of the Verdict:
- Unproven Allegations: The court noted that the allegations of physical harassment remained unproven and were not made for the “public good,” thus constituting actionable defamation.
- Permanent Restraint: Meesha Shafi has been permanently restrained from repeating or publishing these specific allegations across any media platform, including print, electronic, and social media.
- Legal Endurance: The trial spanned nearly eight years, involving 283 hearings, 20 witnesses, and the oversight of nine different judges throughout its duration.
- Damage Award: While Zafar sought Rs 1 billion, the court awarded Rs 5 million as general damages for mental anguish and loss of dignity, stating that specific financial losses were not sufficiently substantiated by evidence.
Reacting to the news, Ali Zafar’s legal team hailed the decision as a victory for truth and due process. Meanwhile, Shafi’s legal counsel has indicated intentions to challenge the verdict in the High Court, arguing that the trial court misread the evidence. This case is widely regarded as Pakistan’s most prominent legal test linked to the global #MeToo movement.
