The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has sought action from the trial court in the harassment case, finding singer Mesha Shafi and eight others guilty of defaming singer Ali Zafar on social media.
FIA declares Mesha Shafi and eight others guilty of defaming singer Ali Zafar on social media
After completing the investigation, the FIA completed the challan on December 15 and submitted it to the prosecution.
The challan said that Mesha Shafi and eight other accused had leveled allegations of sexual harassment against Ali Zafar on social media but could not provide any evidence in this regard. Mesha Shafi, actress Effat Omar, Ali Gul Pir, Mahim Javed, Leena Ghani, Fareeha Ayub, Syed Faizan Raza and Haseem-uz-Zaman have been found guilty.
The FI clarified that Ali Zafar had accepted the pardon of a woman named Hamna Raza so there was no need for further action against her.
Ali Zafar had lodged a complaint with the FIA Cyber Crime Wing in November 2018 after a campaign was launched against him on Facebook, Twitter and other social media alleging that insulting and threatening material was being posted against him, along with the singer. Details of the said Twitter and Facebook accounts were also provided. He also provided evidence of threats to meet his manager.
Ali Zafar had lodged a complaint with the FIA Cyber Crime Wing in November 2018
All the individuals were prosecuted under Section (1) 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 in September 2020 for failing to present evidence.
A two-member prosecution team will review the FIA’s cybercrime challan.
In April 2018, Mesha Shafi had accused Ali Zafar on Twitter of physically harassing him on more than one occasion. In response, Ali Zafar had filed a defamation suit against Mesha.
Ali Zafar took the position that Mesha Shafi used his Twitter account on April 19, 2018 to post derogatory sentences and false accusations against me. The accused were given several opportunities to defend themselves but could not give a satisfactory answer. In the weeks before Mesha Shafi’s allegations of sexual harassment, a vicious campaign was launched against me by several fake accounts.
The singer denied the allegations and said that Prasha Shafi should pay damages for damaging my reputation and making false allegations. Ali Zafar’s defamation suit against Mesha Shafi worth Rs 1 billion is also pending in the Lahore Sessions Court.