Lahore High Court has suspended the order directing singer Meesha Shafi to pay Rs50 million in damages to singer Ali Zafar. The court also issued instructions regarding the deposit of security amount while proceeding with the appeal. The case is part of a long-running legal dispute between the two artists over defamation claims.
During the hearing, Justice Ahmed Nadeem Arshad reviewed Meesha Shafi’s appeal against the earlier verdict. The court suspended the implementation of the damages award and ordered her to submit half of the amount in cash as security. It further directed that the remaining half be secured through a guarantee.
Read more: Meesha Shafi challenges defamation ruling in Ali Zafar case
The court also issued a notice to Ali Zafar and sought his response in the case. However, it rejected a request to fully suspend the trial court’s detailed judgment. The court observed that certain findings, including restrictions on repeating harassment allegations, could not be suspended at this stage.
Earlier, a sessions court had ordered Meesha Shafi to pay Rs50 million in damages to Ali Zafar in the defamation case. The dispute stems from allegations made by Meesha Shafi in 2018, which Ali Zafar denied and challenged in court. He had filed a Rs100 crore defamation claim in response to the accusations.
Read more: Meesha Shafi challenges defamation verdict in LHC
The case has remained under judicial proceedings for several years, drawing significant public and media attention in Pakistan’s entertainment industry. The latest High Court decision keeps the matter active as both sides continue legal arguments. Further hearings are expected in the coming weeks.