LAHORE – 36-year-old singer, Meesha Shafi, issued a long statement onTwitter in which she thanked her family, friends and fans for theunconditional love and went on talking about why she finally decided tospeak up. It has been a year to the allegation.
“Sharing this because I believe that by speaking out about my ownexperience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence thatpermeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out. But it isharder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore #MeToo”,Meesha tweeted.
The singer-cum-actor continued in her statement, “As a woman, a publicfigure and a mother, I have always felt strongly about using my voice toencourage and support our youth who look up to me especially girls, whodream of carving their own path in Pakistan.”
She also talked about the taboo and stigma attached to the topic ofharassment and how it is difficult for women to speak up against it.
“Despite having a voice, there are some issues that are very difficult tospeak about as a woman, especially sexual harassment. If this can happen tosomeone like me, an established artist, then it can happen to any youngwoman hoping to break into the industry and that concerns me gravely”,Meesha said in her statement.
A year later after an ongoing case, Ali says Meesha simply wants to blamehim for her own personal gain because she wants to move to Canada and be asymbol of hope there.
Speaking to the media outside a sessions court in Lahore which heard thedefamation suit against Meesha Shafi, Zafar said, “I am truthful and thosewho are honest appear without being called.”
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“There was a social media campaign against me and I have taken this upwith the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Meesha’s lawyer has beenfollowing and retweeting fake accounts.”
“This was done according to a proper plan. I was targeted for personalgains. Was this done because she [Meesha Shafi] is going to Canada and herimmigration is happening? I don’t know if she wanted internationalrecognition there and become a Malala.”
“Meesha’s case was dismissed as was her appeal,” he stated. “My case isthat of compensation, it has been a year and our witnesses have appearedeight times.”
“The case should be decided fast so my truth and their lie can berevealed,” Zafar said.
