LAHORE-Pakistani Singer Meesha Shafi’s counsels have finally replied to thelegal notice sent to her by Ali Zafar over sexual harassment allegationsagainst him.
The counsel replied to Ali Zafar’s notice saying that “At the very outset,we categorically deny all allegations, assertions and/or insinuationexpressly or implicitly made in your notice against our client, all ofwhich are legally and factually incorrect.”
Shafi’s legal team, which comprises Hina Jillani, Saqib Jillani, Nighat Dadand Muhammad Ahmad Pansota, further wrote, “Your client is urged towithdraw the unlawful and false notice and issue an apology immediately forthe wrongs he has committed against women.”
The reply came in response to a legal notice sent by Zafar’s counsel askingthe singer-cum-actor to delete her tweet alleging harassment and issue anapology on Twitter, failing which he will file a Rs1 billion defamationcase against her.
In response to the notice, Shafi’s legal team said, “Your assertion thatour client had mala fide motives actually belittles and undermines the#MeToo campaign which has helped hundreds of women all over the world sharetheir harrowing experiences of sexual harassment and hold their abusers tosome form of accountability. Our client’s decision to share her experiencepublicly, knowing full well the risks she was exposing her family andherself to, is extremely brave and path-breaking.”
Listing down Meesha’s achievements so far and her family background, thereply added, “Most of all, our client is a happy wife of a wonderfulhusband and a proud mother of two beautiful children.”
The counsel further stated,“That our client has suffered sexual harassmentof a physical nature at the hands of your client on more than one occasion,including at the workplace where both, our client and your client, wereprofessionally engaged. She was shocked, traumatized and extremelydistressed continuously which affected her professional work. She reportedthe incidents of sexual harassment to a number of people including theorganizers of events where our client was asked to work with your client.She has been trying to avoid your client as much as possible after therepeated incidents of sexual harassment. For the sake of her dignity andself-respect and that of many thousands of women in this industry, ourclient decided that silence is no longer an option, hence she reported theacts of sexual harassment committed by Your Client on social media on 19thApril 2018 which are correct and do not in any manner constitutedefamation”.
The reply continued, “Your client’s actions constitute sexual harassment asdefined in section 2(h) of the Protection against Harassment of Women atthe Workplace Act 2010, which defines harassment to mean “any unwelcomesexual advance, request for sexual favors or other verbal or writtencommunication of physical conduct of a sexual nature or sexually demeaningattitudes, causing interference with work performance or creating anintimidating, hostile or offensive work environment_ or the attempt topunish the complainant for refusal to comply to such a request or is made acondition for employment. Your client can also be held liable under thePakistan Penal Code, 1860 (“PPC”).”
Rejecting Zafar’s tweet refuting Shafi’s allegations against him, the replyread, “That our client denies and refutes in the strongest possible termsthe allegation that she has defamed your client. In this regard, yourclient’s tweet is rejected being an attempt to conceal and hide hispredatory behavior. Your assertion that our client posted the tweetclaiming sexual harassment by your client as part of some grand scheme dueto jealousy is patently false and unfounded. Our client has absolutely nomala fide intention, ulterior motives or any other agenda against yourclient other than addressing his unlawful actions. Your client is beingcondemned and exposed for what he has done against many women including ourclient. Our client is an accomplished and successful artist who enjoys ahuge fan following. She and her family are known to support women rightsand human rights and progressive values. She has nothing to gain out offalsely accusing your client. In fact, after opening up about the sexualharassment which our client has faced, it is our client who has beensubjected to the worst form of slander, stereotyping, characterassassination and vitriol in electronic. print and social media instigatedby your client.”
“The statements of our client are true and she has every right to exposethese publicly in the interest of her own protection, right to dignity andfreedom to pursue her career and public life and to fulfill herprofessional responsibilities in an enabling environment without fear andanxiety. It is pertinent to mention here that many women have spontaneouslycome forward and reported similar incidents against your client at the riskof being slandered, bullied and threatened,” it further noted.
In its last point, the reply stated, “That a vicious campaign comprisingrumours, allegations, threats and slander against our client has beeninitiated on behalf of your client, which has not only targeted our clientbut her family and her two young children, forcing her to deactivate allher social media accounts except Twitter. Please note that our clientreserves the right to initiate appropriate civil and criminal proceedingsagainst Your client and others who have resorted to libel, slander andother harassment against our client.”