LAHORE: A sessions court on Saturday adjourned hearing of a defamation suit of actor-cum-singer Ali Zafar against singer Meesha Shafi as a witness of the latter was not available for her cross examination.

Shafi’s counsel Saqib Jillani told the court that Leena Ghani, the witness, had gone to Islamabad due to some unavoidable domestic affairs. He sought an adjournment on behalf of the witness.

On the other hand, plaintiff’s counsel Hasham Ahmad opposed the adjournment request and called it an attempt to delay the proceedings.

However, Additional District & Sessions Judge Azhar Iqbal Ranjha allowed the request for the adjournment and directed the witness to appear on June 21 for her remaining cross examination.

Zafar filed the suit against Shafi for leveling allegations of sexual harassment on him. He said the allegations tarnished his image in public while his family had been facing agony and pain. He asked the court to issue a decree against Shafi and direct her to pay Rs1 billion as damages to him.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2021