Pakistani singer Meesha Shafi has alleges fellow musician Ali Zafar of sexual harassment on multiple occasions.
Meesha Shafi took to her Twitter account to label sexual harassment accusations on Teefa in Trouble actor Ali Zafar. “Today, I speak up because my conscience does not allow me to be silent anymore,” said Shafi in her statement. “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,” she added.
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 pic.twitter.com/iwex7e1NLZ
— Meesha Shafi (@itsmeeshashafi) April 19, 2018
Talking about it further, she wrote, “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. This happened to me despite the fact that I am an empowered, accomplished woman who is known for speaking her mind! This happened to me as a mother of two children.”
Talking to a leading newspaper about the issue, the singer told that she informed her husband at first and team. “When the incident happened, the very first person I told was my husband. Shortly after that I spoke about this incident to someone on my team, and one of my friends,” quoted Dawn.com.
“It shouldn’t be this difficult to speak out when one is in the right. As parents, we tell our children to speak up if somebody touches them inappropriately and that it is never their fault. So why is it this hard to do the same? One shouldn’t have to be this brave to report sexual misconduct. I’ve had support around me, I consider myself an empowered woman, and I still had such a hard time with this decision. By speaking up I hope I’m able to break this chain of hesitation that holds us back from speaking up. I’m doing this not only for myself, but also for people who might be watching me, especially young women, who have the right to enter any professional or communal space without fearing harassment,” it added.
Ali Zafar has not spoken on the issue yet.