The Lahore High Court has conditionally suspended a lower court order directing Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages to Ali Zafar in a defamation case. The decision provides partial relief while allowing key aspects of the original ruling to remain in effect.
Justice Ahmed Nadeem Arshad heard the appeal and issued a notice to Ali Zafar, seeking his response to the petition filed by Meesha Shafi. The court directed Shafi to deposit half of the damages amount, while the remaining sum may be submitted through a bond or installments.
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However, the court declined to suspend the entire judgment issued by the sessions court, particularly the section restricting Meesha Shafi from repeating sexual harassment allegations. The judge observed that this portion of the ruling could not be set aside at this stage of proceedings.
Moreover, the court noted that allowing repeated allegations under a suspended order could create legal complications, reinforcing its decision to maintain that restriction. This stance highlights the court’s cautious approach while balancing competing claims in the ongoing legal dispute.
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Earlier, a sessions court had ruled in favor of Ali Zafar and awarded him Rs5 million in damages after concluding that Meesha Shafi failed to prove her allegations. The case stems from Shafi’s claims of sexual harassment, which Zafar has consistently denied.
In her appeal, Meesha Shafi argued that the trial court did not fully assess the facts and maintained that her complaint remains under consideration in higher forums. The court will proceed further after Ali Zafar submits his reply, keeping the case active for continued legal review.