In London, Meesha Shafi, a renowned Pakistani rockstar, achieved a significant victory in her defamation lawsuit against ARY’s UK broadcaster, New Vision TV Limited (NVTV). The London High Court ruled in her favor, affirming that the channel’s broadcasts severely defamed her in connection to her harassment case involving singer Ali Zafar.
Shafi, recognized for her chart-topping songs in Pakistan, filed the lawsuit against NVTV for falsely accusing her of disregarding Pakistani court orders.
The channel claimed she disobeyed court mandates by returning to Canada instead of attending court proceedings related to Zafar’s defamation lawsuit against her.
During the broadcast on December 5, 2020, NVTV displayed images of Shafi and Zafar, footage of Zafar, and visuals of Shafi in a recording studio. They also showed court orders, scenes of the Lahore sessions court complex, and offensive tweets, one of which cruelly mocked Shafi.
The broadcasts featured repetitive tickers reiterating the defamatory statements. One segment specifically alleged that Shafi returned to Pakistan secretly, recorded songs, and left for Canada instead of appearing in court as summoned for two years in Zafar’s case.
This legal battle stemmed from Shafi’s #MeToo movement allegations against Zafar in April 2018, sparking widespread attention in Pakistan. Despite ongoing litigation between them, Zafar wasn’t involved in the UK civil case against the broadcaster.
Following a trial, Judge Johnson of the Royal Court of Justice ruled that NVTV’s statements were factual, implying Shafi deliberately ignored court orders spanning two years, choosing to record a song in Pakistan before returning to Canada.
The judge determined that NVTV’s words went beyond the stated issues, insinuating Shafi willfully disregarded court orders. While acknowledging situations where suggesting non-compliance with court technicalities might not be defamatory, the judge emphasized that NVTV’s portrayal implied Shafi flouted a fundamental court order mandating her presence.
This depiction was deemed defamatory under common law against the celebrated singer and activist known for her chart-topping hits in South Asian music.
Both parties referenced a defamation case involving Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman against ARY, highlighting the challenges of assessing broadcasts in a foreign language.
Shafi’s lawyer, David Lemer from Doughty Street Chambers, emphasized her high-profile status as a well-known Pakistani-Canadian personality during the court proceedings.
