Defamation case concludes: Meesha Shafi to compensate Ali Zafar for Rs5mln

LAHORE: A sessions court in Lahore has closed the defamation case filed by singer-cum-actor Ali Zafar after instructing singer Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages.

The court’s ruling summary stated that Shafi’s social media posts “contain false, defamatory, and injurious imputations against the plaintiff [Zafar], whereby allegations of sexual harassment of a physical nature were levelled, which have not been proved to be true or made for public good, and thus constitute actionable defamation.”

The short order noted that Zafar filed the case in 2018, after Shafi made her sexual harassment allegations public. Since then, the long-running case had gone through around 284 hearings in the Lahore sessions court, taking eight years to conclude in March 2026.

The court’s order explained that Zafar was entitled to compensatory damages for damage to reputation, dignity, and mental anguish. However, claims for special damages “have not been proved through cogent and reliable evidence.” The court concluded:

“Accordingly, a sum of Rs5,000,000 … is awarded to the plaintiff as general damages only, recoverable from the defendant. The defendant is further permanently restrained from repeating, publishing, or causing to be published, directly or indirectly, the aforesaid defamatory allegations of sexual harassment of a physical nature against the plaintiff, in any form of media, including print, electronic or social media.”

The court had technically concluded the case on Monday, but Tuesday was set as the final day to issue the formal order.

Zafar stated that the allegations of sexual harassment not only tarnished his public image but also caused his family a traumatic and painful experience. Shafi had accused Zafar in 2018 of sexually harassing her on multiple occasions, claiming that she initially tried to resolve the issue privately before going public.

In his defamation suit, Zafar had sought Rs1 billion in damages, arguing that Shafi’s false allegations seriously damaged his reputation. His lawyer, Advocate Umar Tariq Gill, emphasised Zafar’s previously clean record and said that the accusations negatively affected his career.

Shafi’s lawyer, Advocate Saqib Jilani, asked the court to dismiss the defamation suit with costs, arguing that Zafar had produced no concrete evidence in support of his claims. He further contended that Shafi had reported multiple incidents consistently, despite extensive cross-examination, and should not be punished for speaking about her own grievance.