A judicial magistrate of Lahore’s session court issued arrest warrants of actress Iffat Omar and Ali Gul Pir related to a defamation case filed by Ali Zafar.

It also summoned singer Meesha Shafi in the next hearing.

The case was heard on Tuesday, while the written order was issued on Wednesday, reported Samaa.

During the hearing of the case, the court rejected pleas of exemptions from personal appearance in the court filed by Omar, Leena Ghani, Fariha Ayub, Faizan Raza and Haseemus Zaman.

The actors filed the applications seeking exemption from personal appearance on almost similar grounds of living and working in Karachi, reported Dawn. The report added the actors said it was difficult for them to appear before the court on each and every hearing.

However, Omar sought one time exemption from personal appearance due to exigency, read the report.

The court adjourned hearing of the case till October 6.

According to the report, the court issued bailable arrest warrants of Omar for Oct 6 and non-bailable arrest warrants of Ali Gul Pir, who remained unrepresented.

In April 2018, Shafi accused Zafar of sexually harassing her, a charge Zafar denied. He filed a defamation suit against her. The two have since been engaged in a legal battle.

Shafi’s appeals were rejected by the Lahore High Court and Punjab ombudsperson on the grounds that the alleged harassment was not covered by the workplace harassment law.

However, the Supreme Court in January 2021 approved her case against Zafar.

Earlier, the Federal Investigative Agency in 2020, lodged an FIR against nine persons for allegedly running a smear campaign against Zafar on social media. According to the FIA, they were unable to provide witnesses to prove Meesha's sexual harassment allegations against Zafar.

Names of Meesha Shafi, Leena Ghani, Iffat Omer, Fariha Ayub, Faizan Raza, Haseemuz Zaman, Ali Gul Pir and Maham Javed were included in the complaint filed by Zafar for running a coordinated vilification campaign against him on social media, according to a report by Samaa.

They were booked under Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act’s Section 20 (Offences against the dignity of a natural person) and Pakistan Penal Code’s Section 109 (Punishment of abetment).