Defamation Case: Meesha Shafi requests to appear in court via video link from Canada

Meesha Shafi requests to appear in court via video link from Canada for the ongoing defamation case hearing.

As being reported, a session court Saturday was requested to record the cross-examination of Meesha Shafi and her husband Mahmood Rahman through a video link.

Advocate Saqib Jillani, the counsel of Ms. Shafi, pleaded that the couple could not come to Pakistan from Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the court sought the personal appearance of Meesha Shafi, Iffat Omar, and six others in the case.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Azhar Iqbal Ranjha was hearing the Rs100million defamation suit filed by singer-actor Ali Zafar against Ms. Shafi for making allegations of sexual harassment.

The court had summoned actress Iffat Omar and make-up artist Leena Ghani besides Meesha Shafi, her husband Mehmood, mother Saba Hameed, and manager Farhan for their cross-examination on the last date of hearing.

While on Saturday’s hearing only Saba Hameed and Iffat Omar appeared before the court for their cross-examination.

Meanwhile, Ali Zafar’s counsel Advocate Umar Gill opposed the request of cross-examination via video link from Canada. 

He argued that if celebrity singe Meesha Shafi could come to Pakistan for her music performance and recordings during the peak days of COVID-19, why not for the court proceedings.

Advocate Umar Gill also pleaded that there is no restriction on travelling from Canada to Pakistan.

The court is likely to give a verdict on the matter after recording the statements of other witnesses in the defamation case. 

While the court also summoned Meesha’s manager on the next hearing. The court adjourned proceedings till March 10, 2021.

Meanwhile, during her cross-examination, actress Iffat Omar accepted that she would like her daughter to be just like Meesha Shafi, and Saba Hameed was her friend and mentor like many others.

 “whoever alleges something has to prove the same,” she said.

 Iffat Omar also accepted she did not confront Ali Zafar and his family before tweeting against Ali Zafar.

The legal battle between both Ali Zafar and Meesha Shafi was initiated as the latter accused the former of sexual harassment at the workplace.

In the previous hearing proceedings, the FIA told the court that the suspects could not prove their innocence as they ran a campaign against Ali Zafar on social media.

“They have failed to prove their innocence,” an FIA official told.