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Lahore Court Orders Meesha Shafi to Pay Rs5m Damages to Ali Zafar in Defamation Case
A Lahore court orders Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages to Ali Zafar in a defamation case over harassment allegations. Detailed verdict awaited.
ND
by News Desk
2026-03-31
Lahore Court Orders Meesha Shafi to Pay Rs5m Damages to Ali Zafar in Defamation Case

A sessions court in Lahore on Tuesday directed singer Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages to singer-actor Ali Zafar in a defamation case stemming from allegations of sexual harassment.

The court issued a short order announcing its decision, while a detailed verdict is expected to be released in the coming days, according to court officials.

The case dates back to 2018, when Ali Zafar filed a defamation suit against Meesha Shafi after she publicly accused him of sexually harassing her on multiple occasions. Zafar maintained that the allegations were false and had severely damaged his public image, causing distress to him and his family.

In his suit, Zafar had sought damages amounting to Rs1 billion, arguing that the accusations had harmed his reputation both personally and professionally.

A day prior to the verdict, the sessions court had concluded hearings, signaling that a final decision would be announced soon.

During the proceedings, Zafar’s counsel, Advocate Umar Tariq Gill, argued that the allegations were baseless and had caused irreparable harm to his client’s standing. He emphasized that no other individual had made similar accusations against Zafar and requested the court to grant the full damages sought.

On the other hand, Meesha Shafi’s lawyer, Advocate Saqib Jilani, urged the court to dismiss the defamation suit, contending that the plaintiff had failed to provide concrete evidence to substantiate the defamation claim. He argued that Shafi had consistently maintained her stance regarding the alleged incidents throughout the legal proceedings, including during extensive cross-examination.

The defence further maintained that Shafi had exercised her right to speak about her personal experiences and should not be penalized through a defamation claim for voicing her allegations.

After reviewing arguments from both sides, the court ruled partially in favor of Ali Zafar, awarding Rs5 million in damages instead of the Rs1 billion originally sought.

The case has remained one of the most high-profile legal battles in Pakistan’s entertainment industry, drawing widespread public attention since its inception.
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LahoreCourt

AliZafar

DefamationCase

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