LAHORE: A petition was moved before the Lahore High Court on Friday challenging the ban on the exhibition of Pakistani film ‘Maalik’. Advocate Mahboob Alam filed the petition, stating that the film ‘Maalik’ had discussed the issue of corruption and social issues. He stated that the film neither was against the sovereignty of the state nor was it against the social values but even then the government had banned the exhibition of the film in cinemas across the country. He stated that the film censor board had given approval for the exhibition of this film but later the government took the step of issuing a restraint order. He stated that the film was based on social norms and values in our society and against menace of corruption. Mahboob Alam said that any movie or drama made for social development cannot be banned. He requested the court to set aside the notification banning the exhibition of the movie. ‘Maalik’ is a 2016 Pakistani political-thriller film made by Ashir Azeem. The film stars Azeem, Farhan Ali Agha, Sajid Hassan, Hassan Niazi, Adnan Shah, Rashid Farooqi, Ehteshamuddin and Tatmainul Qulb in leading roles. It was released on April 8 in cinemas across Pakistan under the production banner of Media Hub.