LAHORE: If you thought that Ali Zafar’s defense note against Meesha Shafi’s accusation of sexual harassment would be the end of this saga, you were truly mistaken. Meesha’s tweet has propelled a whole new movement against the actor-singer as more women, mostly female fans have come forward to share their stories of harassment.
Twitter has been alight ever since Meesha came forward with the allegation Thursday evening.
Makeup artist Leena Ghani, who is also Maheen Taseer’s sister shared her interaction with Ali. In a Twitter post, she posted a note of her experiences with the caption, “Thank you, Meesha Shafi, for your courage and your bravery. It’s never easy. But that should never silence us. I am in total solidarity with you. You are not alone in this because #Metoo #TimesUp #WeBelieveYou.”
Thank you @itsmeeshashafi for your courage and your bravery. It’s never easy. But that should never silence us. I am in total solidarity with you. You are not alone in this because #Metoo #TimesUp #WeBelieveYou pic.twitter.com/hkQ61bqnFH
— Leena (@Leena_Ghani) April 19, 2018
Blogger Humna Raza also shared her experience on Twitter. Humna detailed that Ali touched her inappropriately when she requested him for a picture after attending a concert of his.
“I was at an event and I saw Ali Zafar there. I was very excited so I decided to get a selfie with him,” Humna tweeted. “He didn’t say anything, but smirked and opened his arms that I took as a yes. I stood next to him and felt his hand go up the side of my waist. I felt it and I knew what happened.”
She said that she told her friends about the incident and later dismissed it thinking that she misjudged the incident. But Meesha’s tweets proved to her that this was a case of harassment.
@itsmeeshashafi you’re not alone. Please read this. #metoo @merabichrayaar @HaadeaP pic.twitter.com/3KzIenHnQn
— Humna Raza (@HumnaRaza) April 19, 2018
Another Twitter user by the name Maham Javaid recalled that Zafar tried to kiss her cousin back in the early 2000s and take her to the restroom with him but luckily her friends pushed him off. However, they did not report the incident because “he’s a celebrity, no one would possibly care or listen.”
So @itsmeeshashafi‘s brave sharing of her experience reminded me of a story about @AliZafarsays from many many years ago, when Ali Zafar tried to kiss my cousin and pull my cousin into a restroom with him. Luckily my cousin’s friends were there to push Ali Zafar off https://t.co/kBQbBiwyFP
— Maham Javaid (@JMaham) April 19, 2018
This was on a boat on the way to a party at the Yacht Club between 2004-2005. Why don’t I remember the date? Bc this is what’s crazy: in those days such sexual harassment was such a non issue and simultaneously such a taboo that we hardly spoke about it
— Maham Javaid (@JMaham) April 19, 2018
We didn’t even think of telling anyone, apart from friends, or reporting him because “he’s a celebrity, no one would possibly care or listen”. And tbh over the years we forgot the story ourselves, until today. Thanks @itsmeeshashafi for reminding us that our stories matters
— Maham Javaid (@JMaham) April 19, 2018
Apart from an official statement released Thursday night, Ali has chosen not to comment on the matter. He has decided to pursue legal proceedings against Meesha Shafi.
