#GEOBREAKINGNEWS - Meesha Shafi Responds To Ali Zafar’s Allegations - 30 April 2019 | #GEONEWS
KARACHI: Singer Meesha Shafi says she had a detailed meeting spanning over two hours with Ali Zafar's representatives before going public with sexual harassment allegations against the actor last year.
The singer said this on Geo News show Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath on Monday, her first television appearance since the harassment and defamation cases were filed in court.
She said that she wished to resolve the matter privately as she did not want to work further with Ali Zafar, and that she had communicated this “privately through representatives in a very clear manner".
"I was trying my best not to let this come out. I had given them the message that I do not want a controversy of any kind, and that I do not want this to come out in public," she said.
"I have tried my level to sort the issue privately behind closed doors. But I didn’t get any breakthrough."
She said she gave the message that she does not want to work with Ali Zafar, but got the response that Meesha should visit him at his residence to talk about it.
Meesha Shafi's lawyer slams 'episode of male tears', rallies support for 'survivors'
She further said she was asked what she would do if there is an apology. She said she sent her response to the apology offer, but that Zafar went back to his request for her to meet him at his residence and never told how the issue would be resolved.
Didn't speak about it immediately as I had blocked it out'
"During those four months after the incident, I did not speak about it as I had blocked it out. I was not thinking about it, nor was I thinking about how or when to talk about it," she said.
"I had made a promise to myself that, after what I had experienced first hand, I would not put myself in such a situation where I would feel vulnerable like this."
Performed with Zafar on organiser's insistence
Responding to performing on stage together with Zafar, Meesha said it was the idea of the concert organisers and that she did it on their insistence.
"It was part of the agreement as per the professional contract," she said
Meesha said that she has a number of witnesses with her who are willing to record their statement in the court. "As per the harassment laws, the witnesses’ testimony is taken as evidence," she said.
Shafi calls #FaceTheCourtMeeshaShafi, 'incorrect'
The singer called the hashtag #FaceTheCourtMeeshaShafi as 'incorrect', as she maintained that contrary to the perception being built that she is evading the hearings, she has not yet been summoned by the court.
"I will appear before the court whenever it summons me," she maintained.
Shafi's statement comes in response to singer Ali Zafar's allegation that a social media campaign has been launched against him on Meesha's behest.
Harassment allegations: Ali Zafar breaks down during show ‘Naya Pakistan’
Speaking in Geo News’ show Naya Pakistan, Zafar alleged that the paid accounts had been tasked by Meesha to tag companies who have hired Zafar along with the United Nations' agencies so that his career can be ended.
Zafar alleged that Shafi wants to immigrate to Canada but he does not know why she made the harassment allegations in the first place. In response to Ali, the programme's host Shahzad Iqbal highlighted that Meesha Shafi’s Canadian PR had been approved in 2016.
"I don’t know why she is doing this… one should ask her. She should come to the court herself and reveal her true intentions," said Zafar.
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