The Meesha Shafi – Ali Zafar controversy has reached new heights, with both of them making media appearances for the first time, after almost a year of the beginning of the whole thing.
Some background on the controversy
In the past two weeks, a number of things have happened. Firstly, a colossal number of women and brands chose to withdraw their LSA nominations by stating Ali Zafar’s nomination as a reason behind their withdrawal. This was followed by Ali Zafar speaking to media, in front of a courtroom in Lahore and then making three consecutive appearances in three different television shows. He challenged Meesha Shafi to come in front of the media and a court and tell her side of the story.
In the aftermath of Ali’s interviews and crying episodes, Meesha’s legal team responded with a statement while later that day, Meesha appeared on a programme at Geo News titled Aaj Shahzaib Khanzada key Sath, a day after Ali Zafar appeared on the same channel.
Upon being asked if she would like to resolve the issue, out of court as per Ali’s offer, Meesha said that she doesn’t even understand what he is offering. When she does, she may consider it. Meesha also said that instead of putting all the pressure on her to provide and produce evidence, our legal system should do a better job and that she is not the only one who has spoken up against Ali Zafar, there have been several other victims too.
Meesha sues Ali Zafar for 2 billion
In a new twist, Meesha Shafi’s legal team has sent Ali Zafar a legal notice on April 30. Her lawyer, Nighat Dad, shared a copy of the notice on her social media accounts.
According to the notice, Meesha will now be suing Ali for 2 billion while she has also demanded a public apology.
A legal notice has been served to @AliZafarsays against his false, malicious and defamatory statements against our client @itsmeeshashafi on multiple National TV channels. #MeToo pic.twitter.com/1ofo1KNhDb
— Nighat Dad (@nighatdad) May 1, 2019
The notice was sent under Section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance, 2002.
As per the notice, Ali Zafar is addressed as follows: “In a statement aired on Hum News on April 27 (a link of which you have posted on your Twitter account) you falsely claimed and published that our client is lying and has made false sexual harassment allegations against you just to get fame and recognition so as to get Canadian immigration.”
The notice then calls Ali out on bringing Malala, amidst the chaos. “In addition to the same, you have also claimed that our client wants to become Malala [Yousafzai], thereby implying that Malala also fabricated a false story like Meesha just to gain international recognition and immigration of a foreign country,” reads the notice.
“Malala – the world’s youngest Nobel laureate is Pakistan’s pride and a source of inspiration to millions of young children, woman and men across the world. Your insinuation that her story was fabricated is an insult to a national hero. You have also knowingly and falsely claimed/published that our client’s case against you has been dismissed by the ombudsperson against sexual harassment and that you have been exonerated from all charges of sexual harassment,” it further says.
Amidst all the bedlam, someone asked why the notice didn’t mention Ali’s interview with Mubashir Lucman to which Nighat Dad had the following to say:
That deserves a separate notice! Coming soon
— Nighat Dad (@nighatdad) May 1, 2019
A final word
The notice goes on to explain that Zafar’s claims that Meesha has been doing all of this for Canadian immigration are “patently false” for she has been a Canadian resident since 2016. The notice has further asked Ali to record on TV a “proper apology” within 15 days of the notice and to pay the Rs. 2 billion otherwise legal proceedings will be initiated.
Let’s wait and see how the situation unfolds.
What do you have to say about the whole situation? Let us know in the comments.
