Pakistani singer and actor Meesha Shafi shocked the world on Thursday with a Twitter post accusing pop star, actor and composer Ali Zafar of sexual harassment on multiple occasions.
Meesha’s tweet reads, “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 #MeToo.”
Her tweet further reads, “I have been subjected, on more than one occasion, to sexual harassment of a physical nature at the hands of a colleague from my industry: Ali Zafar. These incidences did not happen when I was young or just entering the industry. I feel betrayed by his behaviour and his attitude. I know that I am not alone,”
The mother of two shared her story with an alarming message. “If this can happen to someone like me, an established artist, then it can happen to any young woman hoping to break into the industry and that concerns me gravely.”
Ali Zafar, predictably, has denied all reports and took to Twitter to clarify the same. “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. I categorically deny any and all claims of harassment lodged against me by Shafi,” he stated.
