Syed Farhan Ali, Meesha Shafi’s manager, recorded his statement in Rs.1 billion defamation case filed by Ali Zafar against Meesha Shafi on sexual harassment accusations.
He was present in the jam session but personally did not witness Ali Zafar harassed Meesha Shafi, said Farhan Ali in his statement recorded before the court.
“I was not focusing on the plaintiff or the defendant. I did go out of the room a couple of times so I cannot confirm whether or not any harassment happened,” he added, clarifying his previous remarks.
.@nighatdad says @itsmeeshashafi's witness did not 'go against her', calls out publication for twisting witness statements https://t.co/uZseX02mB2
— Cutacut (@CUTACUTOfficial) November 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/thewomenjournal/status/1197629417197129730
He, however, added that after the jamming session Shafi shared with him that she felt uncomfortable with Ali Zafar and that she would not work with him in the future. She told Farhan that Zafar ‘was not a good person’ and that she hates him.
He informed the court later Meesha Shafi refused to work with Ali Zafar after he was added into the list of participating cast for the sponsored music contest.
Farhan Ali added that no resolution could be reached between Ali Zafar and Meesha Shafi despite several efforts from the sponsors.
Read more: Nine witnesses reject Meesha Shafi’s allegation of sexual harassment in court
“As a result, Meesha was forced to go public with her sexual harassment allegations despite my advice against it. I told her people would abuse her and she would lose her work too,” testified Farhan.
He added that regarding Ali Zafar he has heard sexual harassment allegations from other women in person and on the internet as well. Farhan asserted that he does not believe there is any motive behind Meesha Shafi’s allegation against Ali Zafar.
He is unaware if Meesha Shafi has received any foreign funding to expand the MeToo campaign in Pakistan. “She sends her tax returns through me, and they have decreased,” he said.
https://twitter.com/dailytimespak/status/1197106225550417920
Earlier, Sara Razee, a childhood friend of singer Meesha Shafi has testified in favor of singer Ali Zafar in session court Lahore. Razee recorded her statement on Thursday, part of a defamation case moved by Ali Zafar in response to Shafi’s allegations of sexual harassment against him.
Sara Razee in her official written and oral statement asserted that she is a mutual friend with both Ali Zafar and Meesha Shafi. In her detailed statement, she ruled out the possibility of Ali Zafar sexually harassing Meesha Shafi. She gave accounts of several meetings of Ali Zafar and Meesha Shafi, after an alleged incident, in which she found Meesha’s behavior towards Ali unchanged and normal.
Earlier, all nine witnesses presented by Ali Zafar’s legal counsel before the session court in Lahore have denied the sexual harassment allegations leveled by Meesha Shafi. These nine witnesses have already submitted their affidavits in court testifying Ali Zafar’s innocence.
Read more: Meesha Shafi – How many women will it take to hold Ali Zafar accountable?
All the witnesses maintained that the singers were standing two to three feet apart throughout the rehearsals.
It is approximately a year since Meesha Shafi publicly accused Ali Zafar of sexually harassing her. Ali Zafar had denied the allegation and announced to fight a legal battle against sexual harassment allegations.