After singer Meesha Shafi, more women say #MeToo for Ali Zafar

lahore — After actress-modelsinger Meesha Shafi accused actor Ali Zafar of sexual harassment — a claim he has denied — more women have come forward with similar allegations.

The women, while lending support to Meesha, tweeted saying she was not alone and they had faced similar experiences, reported Geo News.

Make-up artist Leena Ghani thanked Meesha for being brave enough to speak out.

“Seeing Meesha’s courage it’s impossible for me to not speak now, not only in support of her but also to say she’s not alone. In the many years I have known Ali, he has on several occasions crossed boundaries of what is appropriate behaviour between friends,” Leena wrote. She elucidated on how Ali’s behaviour displays a “clear lack of respect for women”.

“Inappropriate contact, groping, sexual comments should not fall in the grey area between humour and indecency. Comments that would make your skin crawl and make you feel objectified are not to be reduced to ‘a joke’ such behaviours can leave women

This happened to me despite the fact I am an empowered, accomplished woman who is known for speaking her mind! Meesha Shafi, singer and actress

feeling embarrassed, small and reduced to the level of entertainment at the hands of a woman.

“In such cases, women like myself run from a situation and hope to God you never cross paths again. And when by some misfortune you do, you hide from him. Hoping that his sleazy eyes and hands don’t find you again. His hands don’t make their way up and down your waist or hold you too tight while you desperately try to wiggle and run,” Leena wrote.

Leena said Meesha “isn’t and has not been alone”.

“The memories of the times when Ali thought he could get away by saying vulgar things still disgust me,” she added.

A journalist named Maham Javaid described an incident from “many many years ago” when Ali tried to kiss her cousin and pull

I intend to take this through the courts of law, and to address this professionally and seriously rather than to lodge any accusations here singer and actor

Ali Zafar,

her into a restroom with him.

The journalist thanked Meesha for “reminding us that our stories matter”. Blogger Humna Raza also recounted when he inappropriately touched her at a public event.

On Thursday evening, Meesha sparked Pakistan’s #MeToo moment when she took to Twitter to allege Ali had sexually harassed her on more than one occasion. This is the first incident of a Pakistani celebrity speaking out about a colleague.

However, Ali on Thursday denied Meesha’s claim, saying he will take this allegation through the courts of law.

“I am a strong believer that the truth always prevails,” he tweeted.

Although Pakistan’s entertainment industry has remained largely mum on the issue, actorwriter Osman Khalid Butt and model-actress Urwa Hocane have tweeted in support of Meesha, reported Geo News.

Meanwhile, actor Maya Ali posted on Instagram saying she respects Ali and “we shouldn’t judge anyone’s character” until the truth comes out. —