Meesha Shafi vs Ali Zafar verdict: Iffat Omar reacts, ‘it’s a man’s world’

Pakistani actress Iffat Omar has expressed deep disappointment following the final verdict in the defamation case between singer-actor Ali Zafar and Meesha Shafi, calling it a blow to women who speak up against harassment in the country.

“I will not step back from my truth. Anyone who knows me knows this,” Omar said in a statement shared after the session court’s ruling. She added that her support for Meesha Shafi was rooted in her firsthand knowledge of both families and her close relationship with their children. “We did not step back because we knew that if we lost this case, then every woman who suffers this every day would lose with us,” she said.

Omar condemned the way women supporting Shafi were pressured, accused of foreign agendas, and even threatened with criminal charges. “I was told I could face three years in prison. And if that happens, I will go and serve those three years,” she stated.

Highlighting the prevalence of harassment, Omar said, “Every woman knows that at some point in her life, she has been physically harassed… sometimes in a room full of people, someone touches you in a way you cannot even process.” She criticized the court’s verdict, asserting that it undermines the credibility of women who come forward with allegations of misconduct.

Omar also emphasised that the case was never about monetary compensation. “This five million penalty, we can pay it right now. It’s not about that. It’s about the fact that women will continue to be touched inappropriately, even when married, even by men who are ‘friends’ of their husbands. We all know this is the reality of a man’s world,” she said.

In closing, Omar delivered a stark warning about the impact of the ruling: “From today onwards, even I will not believe a woman in Pakistan, because surely, the man must be right.”

The verdict in the high-profile defamation case, which drew national attention to issues of harassment and gender justice, continues to spark debate across the country.

Shafi Ordered to Pay Rs5 Million in Ali Zafar Defamation Case

A Lahore sessions court officially closed the eight-year-long defamation case filed by singer-actor Ali Zafar, ordering Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages. The ruling concluded that Shafi’s social media posts contained “false, defamatory, and injurious imputations” against Zafar, including allegations of sexual harassment, which were not proven to be true or in the public interest, and thus amounted to actionable defamation.

The case, initiated in 2018, went through approximately 284 hearings before the March 2026 verdict. The court awarded Zafar general damages for harm to his reputation, dignity, and mental distress, while dismissing claims for special damages due to insufficient evidence. Shafi has been permanently restrained from repeating or publishing the disputed allegations through any media.

Zafar had sought Rs1 billion, arguing that the allegations severely damaged his career and caused trauma for his family. His legal team highlighted his previously unblemished record and the professional impact of the accusations. Shafi’s lawyer, however, requested dismissal, stating she had consistently reported her grievances and should not be penalized for raising her claims.

The verdict brings an end to one of Pakistan’s most high-profile cases involving allegations of sexual harassment and defamation in the entertainment industry.