Singer-actor Ali Zafar has submitted his reply before a sessions court, stating that fellow singer Meesha Shafi’s request to stay proceedings of Rs1 billion defamation suit against her was no more than a delaying tactic.

“There is no nexus between the fate of civil and criminal litigation nor would the outcome of one effect result from the other,” Zafar said in a written response his counsel filed before the court against an application by Shafi.

Shafi had urged the court to stay the ongoing proceedings in the suit till a decision of a first information report (FIR) registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against her and her witnesses over alleged violation of cybercrime laws.

Omer Tariq Gill, the Ali Zafar’s senior counsel in his reply, submitted defendant filed a list of 20 witnesses to be presented before the court, however, the FIR had been registered against four of them on the allegation of running a smear campaign on social media against him.

He requested the court to dismiss Shafi’s application for being false, frivolous and misconceived.

Meesha Shafi’s evidence was not present in the court on Tuesday.

Omer Tariq Gill asserted that the defendant side was deliberately delaying the matter. On behalf of Meesha Shafi, it was asserted that the stay application may be decided first.

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With reference to adjournment for arguments, the Meesha Shafi side sought adjournment for one week or more whereas Ali Zafar’s lawyer requested a short adjournment.

The court adjourned the hearing till Oct 17 for arguments on the stay application.