SC allows joint statements, cross-examination in Ali Zafar-Meesha Shafi defamation case

ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed recording of joint statements and the joint cross-examination of nine witnesses in a defamation suit filed by Ali Zafar against Meesha Shafi.

A two-member bench of the apex court comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa heard the case and wrapped up Meesha Shafi's appeal challenging the Lahore High Court (LHC) order which had rejected her plea for joint cross-examination of witnesses.

During the course of proceedings, the court directed Ali Zafar's counsel to submit affidavits from witnesses within a week.

The counsel for Meesha Shafi pleaded the court to grant one-week time to complete his preparation for the cross-examination of witnesses.

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The bench accepted the plea and remarked that after preparation, the lawyers should try and complete the cross-examination within a single day.

The court also stopped Meesha Shafi and Ali Zafar from registering unnecessary petitions and directed the trial court to complete the trial soon, without granting unnecessary adjournments.

The counsel for Meesha Shafi said that his client did not know all of Ali Zafar's witnesses and alleged that they were his employees.

The counsel for Ali Zafar refuted this and said that none of the witnesses were the singer's employees.

Justice Qazi Faez Isa asked what Ali Zafar's main objection to Meesha Shafi's request was, to which his lawyer responded that according to the law, statements are recorded and cross-examination of witnesses was done on the same day.

Justice Isa observed that the court has authority to decide whether the recording of statements and cross-examination were done on the same day or not.

The counsel for Meesha Shafi said that once they had a list of the witnesses, they would be ready to conduct the cross-examination in a day.