Lahore, April 29, 2026: Singer Meesha Shafi has challenged a Lahore sessions court ruling that ordered her to pay Rs5 million in damages in a defamation case filed by fellow singer Ali Zafar.
She has filed an appeal in the Lahore High Court seeking to overturn the March 31 judgment, which had ruled in favour of Ali Zafar and held that Meesha Shafi failed to substantiate her allegations.
In her petition, Meesha Shafi’s legal team argues that the trial court made errors in its assessment of evidence and misapplied legal standards while deciding the long-running dispute.
The appeal further contends that Ali Zafar was not required to fully disprove the harassment allegations during the trial, challenging the legal interpretation used in the verdict.
Her petition also highlights that she had previously approached the provincial harassment ombudsperson, but her complaint was dismissed at that stage. She adds that her appeal against that decision is still pending before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
According to her legal team, the defamation ruling should not be enforced until higher courts decide the related proceedings.
The legal dispute between the two artists dates back to 2018, when Ali Zafar filed a defamation suit seeking Rs1 billion in damages, alleging that Meesha Shafi’s claims had harmed his reputation and career.
The sessions court recently ruled in his favour, awarding Rs5 million in damages after concluding that the allegations were not proven during trial.
The case has been ongoing for several years, involving multiple judges, more than 280 hearings, and testimony from around 20 witnesses.
The matter remains one of Pakistan’s most high-profile entertainment-related court cases, with parallel proceedings still active in higher courts. The latest appeal now places the dispute before the Lahore High Court for further judicial review.
