The defamation case between actor-singer Meesha Shafi and fellow artist Ali Zafar has taken a new turn after Shafi filed an appeal in the Lahore High Court against a sessions court ruling.

In her petition, Shafi argued that the sessions court did not properly evaluate the facts of the case and that the order to pay Rs5 million in damages was not in accordance with the law.

She has requested the court to annul the trial court’s decision and order a fresh hearing of the case.

The dispute originated from allegations of sexual harassment made by Meesha Shafi against Ali Zafar, which he denied, before filing a defamation suit against her.

A sessions court later ruled in favour of Ali Zafar and also ordered Meesha Shafi to pay Rs5 million in damages.

In her appeal, Shafi has argued that the trial court’s ruling was flawed and should be set aside.

She also argued that Ali Zafar’s position was not adequately proven and stated that she had already approached the provincial ombudsperson regarding her harassment complaint, which remains pending before the Supreme Court.

She requested that the defamation ruling be suspended until a final decision is reached in the harassment case and that the damages order be set aside.