LHC orders trial court to decide Ali Zafar–Meesha Shafi defamation case within 30 days

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the trial court to decide the defamation suit filed by singer Ali Zafar against artist Meesha Shafi within 30 days.

Justice Ahmad Nadeem Arshad announced the verdict on a petition filed by Shafi challenging a trial court order dated January 24, 2019, which restrained her from issuing statements against Zafar across all media platforms, including social media.

Upholding the trial court’s order, the LHC ruled that the impugned decision was based on sound legal principles and did not require interference. “The impugned order is a well-reasoned order based on sound legal principles and does not warrant interference by this court,” the judgment said.

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The court further observed that discretionary orders passed by competent courts, particularly those relating to interim injunctions, should not be interfered with in constitutional jurisdiction unless they are arbitrary, perverse or suffer from a jurisdictional defect.

Ali Zafar had filed the defamation suit in 2018 under the Defamation Ordinance 2002, seeking Rs1 billion in damages. In his plea, he maintained that Shafi had damaged his reputation through what he termed false allegations of sexual harassment.

In April 2018, Meesha Shafi had publicly accused Zafar on X, formerly Twitter, of physically harassing her on more than one occasion.