After Meesha Shafi, more women say #MeToo for Ali Zafar

After Pakistani actress-model-singer Meesha Shafi accused actor Ali Zafar of sexual harassment — a claim he has denied — more women have come forward with similar allegations.

The women, while lending support to Shafi, tweeted saying she was not alone and they had faced similar experiences, reported Geo News.

Make-up artist Leena Ghani thanked Shafi for being brave enough to speak out.

“Seeing Meesha’s courage it’s impossible for me to not speak now, not only in support of her but also to say she’s not alone. In the many years I have known Ali, he has on several occasions crossed boundaries of what is appropriate behaviour between friends,” Ghani wrote.

Check out her tweet here:

Thank you @itsmeeshashafi for your courage and your bravery. It’s never easy. But that should never silence us. I am in total solidarity with you. You are not alone in this because #Metoo #TimesUp #WeBelieveYou pic.twitter.com/hkQ61bqnFH

— leena (@Leena_Ghani) April 19, 2018

She elucidated on how Ali’s behaviour displays a “clear lack of respect for women”.v Ghani said Shafi “isn’t and has not been alone”.

“The memories of the times when Ali thought he could get away by saying vulgar things still disgust me,” she added. (Also Check: Pakistani actor Ali Zafar accused of sexually harassing singer)

A journalist named Maham Javaid described an incident from “many many years ago” when Ali tried to kiss her cousin and pull her into a restroom with him.

So @itsmeeshashafi's brave sharing of her experience reminded me of a story about @AliZafarsays from many many years ago, when Ali Zafar tried to kiss my cousin and pull my cousin into a restroom with him. Luckily my cousin's friends were there to push Ali Zafar off https://t.co/kBQbBiwyFP

— Maham Javaid (@JMaham) April 19, 2018

The journalist thanked Shafi for “reminding us that our stories matter”. She further writes, “We didn’t even think of telling anyone, apart from friends, or reporting him because “he’s a celebrity, no one would possibly care or listen”. And tbh over the years we forgot the story ourselves, until today. Thanks @itsmeeshashafi for reminding us that our stories matters.”

Blogger Humna Raza also recounted when he inappropriately touched her at a public event.

On Thursday evening, Shafi sparked Pakistan’s #MeToo moment when she took to Twitter to allege Ali had sexually harassed her on more than one occasion. This is the first incident of a Pakistani celebrity speaking out about a colleague.

However, Ali on Thursday denied Shafi’s claim, saying he will take this allegation through the courts of law.

“I am a strong believer that the truth always prevails,” he tweeted.

pic.twitter.com/j1C34onEXC

— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) April 19, 2018

Although Pakistan’s entertainment industry has remained largely mum on the issue, actor-writer Osman Khalid Butt and model-actress Urwa Hocane have tweeted in support of Shafi, reported Geo News.

Meanwhile, actor Maya Ali posted on Instagram saying she respects Ali and “we shouldn’t judge anyone’s character” until the truth comes out.