Masala editor comes out in strong defence of Ali Zafar

Noted Pakistani entertainment journalist Mahwash Ajaz has come out in support of actor and singer Ali Zafar who was accused by Meesha Shafi of sexual harassment.

Meesha had publicly called out Ali Zafar in April 2018, accusing the Teefa in Trouble actor of sexually harassing her during a jamming session.

“Ali is someone I have known for many years and someone I have shared a stage with. I feel betrayed by his behaviour and his attitude and I know that I am not alone,” Meesha tweeted during what was described as the sub-continent’s MeToo moment.

Ali Zafar dismissed Meesha’s claims and took her to the court.

Mahwash Ajaz, who is the digital editor of Masala UAE, put out a long thread of tweets, arguing that Ali Zafar was targeted maliciously and criminally and in a defamatory way.

This is why I think @AliZafarsays has been targeted maliciously, criminally and in a disgusting, defamatory way.

(Information that I'm sharing here is on the public record and public documents.)#AliZafar #MeToo #FalseAllegations

— Mahwash Ajaz (@mahwashajaz_) July 23, 2020

She wrote: “The whole thing makes me want to barf. I was made to think I was speaking up for victims. I was, unwittingly, actually a part of a disgusting criminal campaign against Ali Zafar.

Ajaz went on to tadd that fake accounts were created and a whole narrative was built against Ali.

“Many well-meaning people such as myself supported the cause. What else would we do? We only went with the narrative and the information presented to us. We needed a villain so badly. We needed a hero so badly. We wanted to believe it was him. We wanted to throw eggs on him & loved the schadenfreude. We all wanted the moral high ground of being ‘activists’.”

“The witness further said that both singers were “standing four to five feet apart from each other” during the rehearsal session, that was being filmed.”

“How many of us who openly crapped on Ali Zafar and tarnished his reputation, likened him to actual criminals, shared unverified information, believed in hearsay, actually paid attention to this?”

She said that Ali Zafar was targeted because he was an easy target.

Fake accounts were created. A whole narrative was built. Many well-meaning people such as myself supported the cause. What else would we do? We only went with the narrative and the information presented to us.

But hold on. Why didn't I see this?https://t.co/LD7pFB50GR

— Mahwash Ajaz (@mahwashajaz_) July 23, 2020

“He has been used by certain fauxtivists here who do not have the courage to come clean about their own dirty laundry but don’t worry. This is a jungle. And the same sword you are living by, will come at you too.”

“I have nothing but respect for Ali Zafar and his wife Ayesha Fazli who have faced these insane two years. And I want to say it again. I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

“How would you like it if fake accounts came at you & screamed that you took a million dollars from them or that you assaulted them? This is not how justice works. Abuse & assault are serious matters, this is why witnesses are important. & Ali had them. Yet we still targeted them.”

For two years I have stood by the narrative (I will not say victims) b/c how else could I justify this? I have written opeds, made vlogs, stood my ground, did whatever was in my capacity to speak up. And for what?

To find out that I was being manipulated by ppl who were using

— Mahwash Ajaz (@mahwashajaz_) July 23, 2020

“Many hypocrites here who I see speaking loudly abt bullying, mental health, feminism, activism blah blah blah target me b/c I was brave enough to understand that I was being used & my voice was being manipulated by these fauxtivists. They are not brave. They know it.”

“And I say this on the record. Many of you are afraid to speak up because you are afraid that what happened to me will happen to you. You will get ‘canceled’. You will be targeted by fake accounts yet again. For all the friends who doubted my integrity, I don’t want your apologies. Apologize to Ali Zafar.”