ISLAMABAD: Justice Yahya Afridi has declined to hear appeal of Meesha Shafi, a musician and actor, in a sexual harassment case.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Yahya Afridi heard Shafi's appeal against the Lahore High Court (LHC)'s verdict.

Punjab Ombudsperson had set aside Shafi's sexual harassment complaint against Ali Zafar.

The Punjab governor had also approved the ombudsperson's decision, citing that there was no employer-employee relationship between Zafar and Shafi.

Later, Shafi filed the petition against the LHC decision.

Consequently, the LHC upheld the decision of the Punjab governor, and the Punjab's Ombudsperson assertion that there was no legal error in the decision.

It is the stance of petitioner that the ombudsperson's decision is illegal because the definition of the workplace in the Act is not restricted to protect women only working day jobs.

She has pleaded to set aside the LHC decision. Shafi is fighting a defamation case filed by Zafar over allegations of sexual harassment. She had accused Zafar of sexual harassment.

While Shafi took to social media to make her voice heard on the issue, Zafar responded using legal means, announcing he would be taking a professional route on the matter.

Soon after, Zafar filed a defamation case against Shafi that still remains under trial.

According to her, "The trial court has not allowed delaying cross-examination of the witnesses. It has said the witnesses will be cross-examined immediately after recording their statements."

"To present a witness is the right of one respondent and to cross-examine them is the right of the other respondent," she had said in her appeal.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020