Meesha had filed a complaint against Ali Zafar under the Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010.
Islamabad (Pakistan Point News – 1st August, 2018) Punjab Governor Muhammad Rafiq Rajwana has dismissed Meesha Shafi’s appeal against Ali Zafar over technical grounds, local news outlet The Express Tribune reported on Tuesday.
Meesha had filed a complaint against Ali Zafar under the Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010.
“Her appeal was however rejected on July 11 as Meesha wasn’t an actual employee at the time the harassment allegedly took place and so, was not bound by any formal contract. Therefore, the case does not fall under the said act,” the Express Tribune reported.
Earlier, Meesha had filed a complaint against Ali with the ombudsman under the sexual harassment at workplace ordinance. However, since the ombudsman did not constitute on the grounds of sexual harassment at workplace appeals, the matter had to be taken to the governor.
Meesha Shafi had alleged her colleague Ali Zafar of sexual harassment in a tweet in June.
Meesha said that she is sharing this because she believes that by speaking out about her own experience of sexual harassment, she will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society.
Using the #Metoo hashtag, Shafi added that it is not easy to speak out but it is harder to stay silent. “My conscience will not allow it anymore,” she added.
Ali Zafar had sent a legal notice to co-artist Meesha Shafi for her allegations.
The Teefa in Trouble star had filed a defamation suit in a court in Lahore through his lawyer, asking for an apology from Meesha Shafi for levelling baseless allegations and pay Rs1 billion in damages.
Opening up about the controversy in an interview with BBC Asian Network, Ali Zafar said that he was more hurt, because he has been working towards women's empowerment. "People will find out in time. With time everything comes out and the truth unveils itself. I, since day one, said that I will not fight this over social media as I will take the professional course and I have sought professional remedies and the due course of law shall give justice in time," he had said.
