Actor, singer Ali Zafar has filed an application in sessions court to dismiss fellow singer Meesha Shafi’s application for cross-examination through a video link from Canada. The application was filed on the ground that if Meesha Shafi can travel to Dubai for a music concert, why not to Pakistan for a court hearing.

Zafar filed in court a copy of a tweet of Ms Shafi, in which she announced her travel to Dubai for a music concert on November 28, 2021.

https://twitter.com/itsmeeshashafi/status/1463758327683428361

Shafi had requested the court to record her cross-examination through video-link in the defamation suit filed against her by Ali Zafar. She had claimed that she and her husband were residing in Canada and it was very difficult and impractical for them to travel to Pakistan due to travel costs and restrictions related to COVID-19.

Ali Zafar in this application on Saturday drew the attention of the Court to the fact that “despite the respondent's (Shafi) lame excuse of non-appearance in this honourable Court on the account of Covid-19 pandemic and travel costs, she is stated by herself to be travelling to Dubai for a concert on 28.11.2021.”

He further stated that “now when admittedly the Respondent (Shafi) is travelling all the way from Canada for a concert, her application seeking cross-examination through a video link on account of Covid-19 Pandemic or travel costs holds no justification.”

The application mentioned that “Ali Zafar is willing to deposit the necessary travel expenses of the Meesha and her husband to travel to Pakistan for her cross-examination”

The judge issued notice to Shafi on Zafar’s application and fixed the hearing on November 29, 2021.