Meesha Shafi, Ali Zafar case: SC orders trial court to conclude case within time-frame

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the trial court to conclude the Meesha Shafi and Ali Zafar case within the time-frame stipulated by the Lahore High Court (LHC). A two-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Mushir Alam, disposed of an appeal filed by Meesha Shafi, challenging the order of the Lahore High Court, rejecting her plea for recording the statements of all the witnesses at the same time and then cross-questioning them together.

The court granted permission for recording joint statements and joint cross-examination of nine witnesses in the defamation suit filed by Ali Zafar against Meesha. The court ordered the trial court that no unnecessary adjournments be granted and that the suit be concluded within the time period stipulated by the Lahore High Court.

The Lahore High Court on April 9 granted the petitioners and respondents three months to argue their respective cases. On Tuesday, the court directed counsel for Ali Zafar to submit affidavits from witnesses within a week. The court also accepted a request made by Meesha’s counsel and granted him one week to make preparations for cross-examining the witnesses.

Meanwhile, the court restrained the counsel for Meesha Shafi and Ali Zafar from filing unnecessary petitions. During the hearing, counsel for Meesha Shafi submitted that his client did not know all of Zafar's witnesses and alleged that they were his employees.

Ali Zafar’s counsel, however, rejected the claim and contended that none of the witnesses were Zafar’s employees. Meanwhile, the court disposed of the matter and directed the trial court to conclude the matter within stipulated time given by the high court.