Celebrities among other public figures are divided after a court in Lahore announced its verdict in Ali Zafar’s defamation case against singer Meesha Shafi, with social media posts reflecting a split all across the internet.
A court on Tuesday ordered Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages to Zafar in the case that stemmed from the former’s sexual harassment allegations against the latter back in 2018.
With the verdict not sitting well with a number of people, among those backing Shafi was actor Iffat Omar who referenced her involvement in the case and the fallout faced by those who spoke in support.
“So the final verdict from session court of Meesha Shafi vs Ali Zafar defamation case came out. I was not only a primary character witness, I knew both families and both children very closely. If I took a side, it was with 100% certainty and belief [sic],” she said in a post.
Linking the verdict to broader consequences, she alleged that people were “silenced, pressured, bought and scared”.
The entire support system is broken, Omar said, adding that it was not just Shafi’s loss.
Similar concerns were raised by journalist Sabahbano Malik, who shared a personal account to stress her point.
“A few years ago I was approached by a TV channel to do an entertainment industry focused talk show. On the very first day for the interview I walked in on about 4-5 men going through my Instagram profile casted on the TV on the wall. They quickly closed it but – ick.”
She went on to talk about victim blaming and said, “Women are not safe here. And even if that court did the most unsurprising thing they could do as a Pakistani court – punish a woman, I’m still proud and inspired as hell that women stood ten toes down for the truth. For each other. For what they believe in.”
“Men have no proof they did not harass or grope us. Men will always be trusted,” she said and questioned standards of evidence, writing, “How do I prove to you that the man who assaulted me in a crowd did? You want video? You want me sporting bruises to prove that I fought?”
Activist Maheen Ghani commented through a legal lens, stating that the outcome reflected evidentiary standards rather than the entirety of lived experiences.
“This isn’t just a verdict, it’s a message. That the burden of proof is heavier than the cost of silence, and for many women, the courtroom will feel less like protection and more like exposure. Every woman watching is taking notes, not on justice, but on consequence. If speaking up leads to punishment, what exactly is the system protecting? Stay strong.”
On the other hand, a number of public figures also welcomed the court’s decision, framing it as a matter of proof and due process.
Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry congratulated Zafar, writing, “Huge congratulations @AliZafarsays. I never doubted your innocence.”
“It is high time the Geo anchors who spearheaded the campaign against you take responsibility and apologize,” he added.
ARY News President Ammad Yousaf also emphasised the distinction between legal proceedings and public discourse. “This case isn’t about men vs women it’s about evidence vs allegations,” he said and added that those “who misuse such serious claims must be held accountable strictly”.
Journalist Iqrar Ul Hassan echoed a similar position. “Ali Zafar has won the case of sexual harassment allegations leveled against him by Meesha Shafi. In such cases, women like this should be made an example of.”
