Singer Meesha Shafi has won a defamation case in the UK against ARY’s British broadcaster, New Vision TV (NVTV), over a 2020 news segment. The broadcaster has now issued an on-air apology and agreed to settle the matter outside of court.
The case stems from a broadcast aired on ARY UK in December 2020. The segment accused Shafi of repeatedly ignoring Pakistani court orders related to her legal dispute with singer and actor Ali Zafar. However, the UK High Court found these claims false and defamatory, damaging Shafi’s public image.
The court ruled that the broadcast portrayed her as someone who disrespects legal obligations. It emphasized that such allegations could seriously harm the reputation of a public figure like Shafi, especially one recognized for advocating women’s rights.
As part of the settlement, NVTV admitted its report caused “misunderstanding” and apologized if it caused Shafi “any distress.” The broadcaster also retracted its claims about her conduct in the ongoing legal case in Pakistan.
Shafi’s battle began in 2018 when she accused Ali Zafar of sexual harassment, triggering Pakistan’s most high-profile #MeToo case. Although her harassment case was dismissed on technical grounds, the matter is now being reviewed by the Supreme Court to determine its legal standing under the 2010 workplace harassment law.