After Meesha Shafi, Pakistani make-up artist and activist Leena Ghani has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against singer Ali Zafar on the grounds of similar allegations.
Sister of fashion designer Maheen Ghani, Leena Ghani is demanding Rs.500 million in damages following the suit. In a series of tweets, Leena said that she has decided to stand up for herself.
“After years of personal and legal attacks by Mr Zafar, I have decided to stand up for myself and fight back.”
After years of personal and legal attacks by Mr. Zafar, I have decided to stand up for myself and fight back.
They said go to the courts. So I did. #metoo #TimesUp pic.twitter.com/XSRyaMuTLB
— leena 🇵🇸 (@Leena_Ghani) January 13, 2021
She further added,
“Pakistan is my home, as it is for millions of other women – is it fair that we can be harassed, maligned and labeled as liars when we speak up against sexual harassment in our own country?”
I have moved the court to stop Mr. Zafar and his army of trolls from harassing me further.
Across the board female activists, journalists and lawyers are being targeted for being vocal and speaking up on women based issues, especially the MeToo movement. pic.twitter.com/33Tx45QnrP
— leena 🇵🇸 (@Leena_Ghani) January 13, 2021
In 2018, Meesha Shafi had alleged that Ali Zafar sexually harassed her on multiple occasions. On his part, the Teefa in Trouble star ‘categorically’ denied the allegations and had filed a complaint with FIA cybercrime wing against celebrities like Meesha, Iffat Omar, Leena Ghani, Fariha Ayub, Maham Javaid, Ali Gul, Haseemuz Zaman Khan, Humna Raza and Syed Faizan Raza for allegedly running a smear ‘campaign’ against him.
— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) April 19, 2018
Now, Leena Ghani has requested the court to declare her statement made on April 19, 2018, factual and based on truth, and that she was not part of any campaign against Ali.
In her petition, the make-up artist pleaded that Ali Zafar’s actions had caused her mental torture and that she should be compensated.
ALSO READ
Court Summons Meesha Shafi in Ali Zafar ‘Smear Campaign’ Case