Twitter goes into Throwback Thursday mode after Pakistani singer-actor Meesha Shafi accuses Ali Zafar of sexual harassment. The allegation has divided the Pakistani showbiz industry, with voices speaking out both in support of and against Zafar
BOMBAY TIMES (April 21, 2018)

Within hours of Pakistani singer-actor Meesha Shafi accusing compatriot singer-actor Ali Zafar of sexual harassment, many from the country’s showbiz industry have spoken up on the issue. On Thursday, Shafi claimed that Zafar sexually harassed her multiple times. Detailing the experience in a note on Twitter, she wrote, “Sharing this because I believe that by speaking out about my own experience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out… but it is harder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore.” Within a few hours, in a note of his own, Zafar “categorically” denied “any and all claims of harassment lodged” against him by Shafi. “I am aware and in support of the global #MeToo movement and what it stands for. I am the father of a young girl and a young boy, a husband to a wife and a son to a mother. I am a man who has stood up for myself, my family, my colleagues and friends countless times in the face of slander, defamation and general unkindness. I will do the same today,” he wrote, adding, “I intend to take this through the courts of law and to address this professionally and seriously, rather than to lodge any allegations here, contesting personal vendettas on social media and in turn disrespecting the movement, my family, the industry and my fans. Ultimately, I am a strong believer that the truth always prevails.”

The accusation and the denial soon resulted in a Tweetstorm. Several Pakistani artistes also commented on the issue. Sharing Zafar’s note, Pakistani actor Maya Ali came to her Teefa In Trouble co-star’s defence. “I’m not here to say who is wrong and who is right or who did what and who didn’t… Let’s say, I haven’t known him for long, but I have been working with him since 1 year, we shot our film in Lahore and then we were all together in Poland to shoot the rest of the film and I never ever got any kind of that vibe from him… I always found him talking to his wife and kids on FaceTime...,” she wrote, “I am not judging anyone nor giving any clarification on anyone’s behalf, and we can’t judge the one side of a book… I respect this man and want the truth to come out until then we shouldn’t judge anyone’s character.” (sic) Taking Shafi’s side in the debate, Pakistani actor-writer Osman Khalid Butt wrote, “A woman breaks her silence about abuse, withstands character assassination and further abuse on social media, her story turns into memes and tone-deaf jokes that trivialise the issue, she fears ostracisation — but suuuuure, she did it for the cheap publicity.” Urwa Hocane, a Pakistani VJ and actress, also supported the 36-year old mother of two, and tweeted, “More power to you! Meesha Shafi.”

On the other hand, singer-songwriter Fakhar-E-Alam wrote, “Idiots who are thinking I am by any means dismissing allegations or taking sides, need to know I am in shock and I find no amusement in this situation. But cuz I know both Ali Zafar and Meesha Shafi I am just hoping this is a bad misunderstanding & if true must be consequential.”

MID-DAY (April 21, 2018)

After Pakistani actress-model-singer 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 Shafi, tweeted saying she was not alone and they had faced similar experiences, reported Geo News. Make-up artist Leena Ghani thanked Shafi 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," Ghani 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' as such behaviours can leave women 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," Ghani wrote. Ghani said Shafi "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 her into a restroom with him. The journalist thanked Shafi for "reminding us that our stories matter". Blogger Humna Raza also recounted when he inappropriately touched her at a public event.

On Thursday evening, Shafi 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 Shafi'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, actor-writer Osman Khalid Butt and model-actress Urwa Hocane have tweeted in support of Shafi, 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.