Sexual harassment: Meesha Shafi accuses, Ali Zafar rejects

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Pakistani singer and actress Meesha Shafi has alleged Ali Zafar sexually harassed her on more than one occasion. The singer took to Twitter to speak up about her experience stating “my conscience does not allow me to be silent anymore.”

“Sharing this because I believe that by speaking out about my own experience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out. But it is harder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore #MeToo,” Shafi tweeted, reported Geo News on Thursday.

This is the first incident of a Pakistani celebrity alleging a colleague harassed her. In her statement posted on Twitter, the singer-cum-actor wrote, "As a woman, a public figure and a mother, I have always felt strongly about using my voice to encourage and support our youth who look up to me especially girls, who dream of carving their own path in Pakistan."

Shafi continued, "Despite having a voice, there are some issues that are very difficult to speak about as a woman, especially sexual harassment." “If this can happen to someone like me, an established artist, then it can happen to any young woman hoping to break into the industry and that concerns me gravely.”

She added, “I have been subjected, on more than one occasion, to sexual harassment of a physical nature at the hands of a colleague from my industry: Ali Zafar. These incidences did not happen when I was young, or just entering the industry. This happened to me despite the fact that I am an empowered, accomplished woman who is known for speaking her mind! This happened to me as a mother of two children.”

Shafi who has featured prominently in Coke Studio further said, “It has been an extremely traumatic experience for me and my family. Ali is someone I have known for many years and someone who I have shared the stage with. I feel betrayed by his behaviour and his attitude and I know that I am not alone.”

"Today I am breaking this culture of silence and I hope that by doing that I am setting an example for young women in my country to do the same. We only have our voices and the time has come to use them."

In another media report Ali Zafar has responded to Shafi's allegations of sexual harassment on Twitter, saying that he categorically denies "any and all claims of harassment lodged against me by Ms Shafi". He added that he intends to take the matter to court.

Speaking to Images, Shafi says: “When the incident happened, the very first person I told was my husband. Shortly after that I spoke about this incident to someone on my team, and one of my friends.”

Speaking of her own anxiety about coming forward, Shafi says: “It shouldn’t be this difficult to speak out when one is in the right. As parents, we tell our children to speak up if somebody touches them inappropriately and that it is never their fault. So why is it this hard to do the same? One shouldn’t have to be this brave to report sexual misconduct. I’ve had support around me, I consider myself an empowered woman, and I still had such a hard time with this decision. By speaking up I hope I’m able to break this chain of hesitation that holds us back from speaking up. I’m doing this not only for myself, but also for people who might be watching me, especially young women, who have the right to enter any professional or communal space without fearing harassment."

Images got in touch with Shafi’s mother, actress Saba Hamid, who supports her daughter's decision to speak publicly. “I am totally behind my daughter and I support her,” says Hamid.

While another news channel reported that renowned singer, actor and composer Ali Zafar finally broke his silence, categorically denying all claims of harassment lodged against him by singer Meesha Shafi.

The Coke Studio singer in his statement said: "I am deeply aware and in support of the global #MeToo movement and what it stands for. I am the father of a young girl and a young boy, a husband to a wife and a son to a mother. I am a man that has stood up for myself, my family, my colleagues and friends countless times in the face of slander, defamation and general unkindness. I will do the same today. I have nothing to hide. Silence is absolutely not an option.

"I categorically deny any and all claims of harassment lodged against me by Ms Shafi. I intend to take this through the courts of law and to address this professionally and seriously rather than to lodge any allegations here, contesting personal vendettas on social media and in turn disrespecting the movement, my family, the industry and my fans. Ultimately I am a strong believer that the truth, always prevails."