News Desk |
After Meesha Shafi’s startling allegation on pop icon, Ali Zafar of sexually harassing her several women have come out on Twitter supporting female singer’s claims. They say Meesha Shafi is not alone since Ali Zafar too has subjected them to sexual harassment on several occasions.
The accusers have blamed Ali Zafar for passing inappropriate ‘sexual’ comments on them and said he touched them in a way that transgressed the boundaries. The accusers say Ali Zafar’s behavior objectified them and that it should not fall between the grey area of humor and indecency.
It is hard for his followers to believe the allegations in view of the massive popularity Zafar enjoys. Zafar, himself has claimed to be the protagonist of women empowerment and campaigns like ‘MeToo’.
Read more: Meesha Shafi #MeToo?
Ali Zafar has denied all the allegations, said that he belongs to a respectable family and is a ‘family man’. It is a mere attempt by the female singer to jump on the bandwagon of ‘MeToo campaign’. He has decided to challenge the allegations in the court.
Ali Zafar said, “I have noticed that in the last few years, our moral values have drastically gone down, and the social media is the main culprit in this deterioration because, on this platform, people feel that anyone can say anything about anyone without any checks and balances.”
“I have no fears about these baseless allegations of harassment leveled against me and I believe that the truth will prevail since I am going to move the court within a day or two, but, I am hurt over the misuse of the ‘Me Too’ movement by my accusers without any proof, because it will only bring a bad name and tarnish the image of my country.”
Read more: Lux Style Awards nominations revealed
Celebrities like Hamza Ali Abbasi, Maya Ali, Ahsan Khan, Mahira Khan, Osman Khalid Butt, Urwa Hocane, Fakhre Alam and Armeena Khan all expressed their concerns over the controversy and wished truth must prevail in the end.
@itsmeeshashafi you’re not alone. Please read this. #metoo @merabichrayaar @HaadeaP pic.twitter.com/3KzIenHnQn
— Humna Raza (@HumnaRaza) April 19, 2018
Some of them celebrities like Osman Khalid Butt and Mahira Khan supported Meesha Shafi while Maya Ali, Ali Zafar’s co-star from upcoming movie ‘Teefa in Trouble’ says it is hard for her to believe the allegation.
I’m not saying that she’s wrong and he’s right or that he’s wrong and she’s right; that’s for the courts to decide BUT the reaction from some ppl has been utterly disgraceful. This culture of shame is what leads to rape and little girls being killed. What a sordid affair. #Sad
— Armeena Khan (@ArmeenaRK) April 20, 2018
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bhyvvtpg4AX/?taken-by=khanahsanofficial
Mahira Khan said the real cause behind the continued harassment cases is we tend to desensitize the issue.
Other celebrities remarked that sexual harassment is a serious issue and those movements of women empowerment must not be misused.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhwrZ5YHcG9/?taken-by=official_mayaali
The controversy has shaken the entire entertainment industry as the news spread like a wildfire. Meesha Shadi and Ali Zafar’s case is the first high profile reported in the industry after campaigns of sexual harassment awareness in-fluxed Pakistan’s entertainment industry. Several netizens have expressed their wish for more shady personalities in the industry to be exposed.
Random thought: With this entire #MeToo global epidemic on the rise, I am beginning to realise that ISLAM was right all along when it ordains gap between the 2 genders. So called modernism has brought us to a point where the line between flirting & harassment is insanely blurred.
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) April 20, 2018
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
Only time will tell what course Meesha-Ali controversy will take? Will the controversy be resolved or forgotten? Can we expect similar startling revelations in the future?