Meesha Shafi's harassment claim has been rejected by the Punjab Governor. What does this mean?

Singer Meesha Shafi's sexual harassment complaint against Ali Zafar has as of today been rejected by the provincial ombudsman, and the Punjab Governor in a later appeal.

Images spoke to Shafi's lawyer Ahmed Pansota; he confirmed that the claim made by Meesha to the ombudsperson in Punjab has in fact been rejected on both fronts on 'technical grounds'.

According to Pansota, Shafi's legal team had filed a sexual harassment complaint before the provincial ombudsperson, who can hear cases as per provisions laid out in the Protection Against Harassment of Women in the Workplace Act 2010.

Also read: What is sexual harassment and how do victims get justice in Pakistan?

"The complaint we filed with the ombudsman was rejected on a technical ground," says Pansota. "According to the ombudsman, Meesha and Zafar did not have an employer-employee relationship, so the case could not be heard [in that forum.]"

"We challenged an appeal before the Punjab governor, because the governor is the competent authority to review any decision that is made by the ombudsman. Now the governor has also turned down our request, and our appeal, and has maintained the order that was passed by the ombudsman," says Pansota.

Shafi's lawyer says they will now take the case to the high court to challenge the decision.