Singer and activist Meesha Shafi has won a defamation case against New Vision TV (NVTV), the UK-based broadcaster of ARY Network. The channel issued an on-air apology, acknowledging that its December 2020 report created a “misunderstanding” and expressed regret for any distress caused to Shafi. The settlement came after a UK High Court ruled in 2023 that NVTV’s broadcast falsely accused Shafi of deliberately evading court orders in Pakistan, damaging her reputation.
The controversial report claimed Shafi had disregarded Pakistani court directives, alleging she left the country without attending hearings in a legal dispute with singer Ali Zafar. The court determined that such statements would lower Shafi’s standing in public opinion, especially given her role as a women’s rights advocate. The ruling emphasized that the allegations met the “seriousness threshold” for defamation due to her high-profile status.
The case traces back to 2018 when Shafi accused Zafar of sexual harassment, marking Pakistan’s most prominent #MeToo case. Zafar responded with a Rs1 billion defamation suit, which Shafi countered with her own lawsuit. While her harassment case was dismissed in 2019 on technical grounds, the Supreme Court of Pakistan agreed in 2021 to review whether her allegations qualify under the 2010 workplace harassment law.
This ruling highlights the legal consequences of irresponsible reporting, particularly concerning high-profile figures. Shafi’s victory reinforces the need for fact-based journalism and sets a precedent for public figures fighting defamation. As her legal battle in Pakistan continues, this case serves as a reminder of the intersection between media ethics, defamation laws, and gender rights activism in the country.