Ban on 'Maalik': LHC summons written reply from federal govt, chairman censor board
LHC has sought a written reply from federal government and chairman censor board on May 17.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday accepted plea against ban imposed by the federal government on Pakistani political-thriller film ‘Maalik’ for hearing.
A hearing on the petition was conducted in which Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza has sought a written reply from federal government and chairman censor board on May 17.
The plaintiff Mehboob Alam states that the movie does not spread any kind of ‘anarchy’ and the government has no right to ban the film.
The petitioner has termed the ban on film as illegal and requested to declare it null and void.
He further said that chairman censor board first issued an approval certificate for its release and later over malicious intent forced a ban on the movie without any legal justification.
Separately, Maalik’s director Ashir Azeem has also submitted a plea in Sindh High Court (SHC) challenging the ban on the film.
Earlier on Wednesday, The Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, and National Heritage banned the viewing of film in cinemas across the country, declaring it "uncertified" according to Section 9 of the Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979.
Notification issued by the ministry
The film released on April 18 managed to attract large audiences towards cinema houses but the censor board cancelled its license on Wednesday after it was prohibited from being viewed in cinemas.
Local cinemas also cancelled the movie’s shows with immediate effect and began refunding the tickets.
Film director Ashir Azeem reacted on Twitter:
The problem is with the feudal who cannot accept ke "Main Pakistan ka Shehri Pakistan ka Maalik hun".
— Asher Azeem Gill (@ashirazeemgill) April 28, 2016
The film is based on a man of Pakistan’s Elite Special Forces whose life gets entangled with politics. They soon realize that serving the nation is more complicated than simple following of orders, according to IMDB.
The movie generated a large number of public complaints regarding the portrayal of different ethnicities in general and the country‘s politicians, in particular.
