Ali Zafar's female bandmates rubbish Meesha Shafi's sexual harassment claims

By Mudit Bhatnagar

Apr 24, 2018

05:04 pm

What's the story

After several Pakistani women leveled sexual harassment allegations against Ali Zafar with singer Meesha Shafi leading the way, two of his female bandmates have come out in his support.

Kanza Munir and Aqsa Ali have refuted the accusations stating that they were present at the jam session which Shafi had referred to in her statement and there wasn't any unpleasant behavior on Ali's part.

Details

Munir vouched for Ali

In an elongated Instagram post, Munir wrote, "The whole house band along with myself and another fellow female vocalist were present during that particular 'Jam' and whatever interaction took place between the two was in front of at least 10 other people."

"All I can say is that this statement that Shafi makes is rather odd," she added.

Instagram Post

Have a look at Munir's full statement

I have been working with Ali Zafar on and off since the past 3 years or so and up until now I’ve been quietly observing the current situation because I am no judge of personal character be it Meesha Shafi or Ali Zafar. However, I stand witness to this particular ‘Jam’ late last year that Meesha mentions in her interview with The News. The whole house band along with myself and another fellow female vocalist were present during this session and whatever interaction took place between the two was in front of at least 10 other people. All I can say is that this particular statement that she makes here is rather odd. I have toured with the Ali Zafar band a lot of times and all my trips have been really pleasant and professional and we’ve spent hours jamming together. It would be great if this important movement isn’t taken for granted or misused for personal reasons stealing limelight from real causes. Rest, time will tell!!

A post shared by kanzamunir on Apr 21, 2018 at 6:02am PDT

In Ali's defense

Aqsa called Shafi a liar

Aqsa also took to Instagram to defend Ali.

"I have seen girls throwing themselves at him and his gentlemanly response to that which is so rare of any rockstar," Aqsa said.

She added, "I was at this jam session and so was our entire band. I am astonished that Shafi would take a lie to this level which so many of us can prove wrong."

Instagram Post

Here is Aqsa's post

So as the stories taking turn every minute regard Ali Zafar, MeeshaShafi &#metoo movement, I think as a musician and a woman I should talk about this issue as I was SHOCKED 😮 right now with this article of Meesha. She said that her conscious doesn’t allow her to say quiet so mine also doesn’t allow me. As I am the part of concert crew, I travel intl and locally with Ali Zafar, and I have seen girls throwing themselves at him and his gentlemanly response to that which is so rare of any rockstar. balkay we all travel like friends and we work in a very comfy environment. Today finally Meesha tells us what she says happened to her that Ali harassed her at a jam or did something wrong to her and I cannot stay quiet. I was at this jam session becoz I sing in Ali’s band and so was her manager and our entire band. I am astonished that she would take a lie to this level which so many of us can prove wrong. We all have pictures, we were there and event manager was there and it was a gr8 jam session. I am a woman and I would never allow wrong to any woman. But come on , it's a serious matter and we should be really clear on everything rather then putting accusations on people and then saying sorry you cannot question any woman it’s wrong. Ali is a genuine person, who treats people around him nicely and has always been a support system for everyone; Accusing some1 is easy but living with the guilt is difficult. As a woman I felt sad with her rude behaviour towards everyone including the band but more I feel bad that she’s causing disrespect to this Intl movement of women and all of us female musicians and hard working women.

A post shared by imaqsa.ali on Apr 21, 2018 at 5:21am PDT