Pakistan has its #MeToo moment as more women accuse Ali Zafar of sexual harassment

Even as the Hindi film industry tiptoes around the issue of sexual harassment, the industry across the border seems to be having its own #MeToo movement. It began when Pakistani singer-actress Meesha Shafi accused Ali Zafar of sexual harassment. Zafar, who has been a part of Hindi films like Tere Bin Laden (2010), Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011), Kill Dil (2014) and Dear Zindagi (2016), is now being accused by two more women. 

Zafar has denied the allegations made by Shafi, saying he will choose to fight the issue in court. In his statement, he said, "I categorically deny any and all claims of harassment lodged against me by Shafi." 

However, the actor is now being accused of sexual harassment by two more women. Leena Ghani also took to Twitter to add to Shafi's accusation. 

A make-up artist, Ghani wrote on Twitter that her cousin was also among the women who had been sexually harassed by Zafar. 

She was joined by Maham Javaid, a blogger, who accused Zafar of trying to molest her cousin while they were on a yacht party. "So @itsmeeshashafi's brave sharing of her experience reminded me of a story about @AliZafarsays from many many years ago, when Ali Zafar tried to kiss my cousin and pull my cousin into a restroom with him," she said.

While the tweets received several encouraging responses, they also revealed other women who allege they had witnessed similar behaviour by Zafar in the past. 

The actor has so far denied the allegations, but the voices against him are growing.