Journalists, activists and artists urge PM to lift ‘Manto’ ban

Author: Staff Report

Following Pakistan Censor Board’s decision to debar Saadat Hasan Manto’s biopic film ‘Manto’, activists, journalists and the late writer’s family members wrote an open letter to PM Imran Khan, appealing him to dismiss the ban with immediate effect. The open letter in its entirety is reproduced below:

An Open Letter to Mr. Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan

Manto, a critically acclaimed film directed by Nandita Das, celebrates the life of an Urdu writer who chose Pakistan as his home during the Indian partition but is collectively owned and revered by the people of subcontinent. The audiences and critics worldwide have appreciated the film. However, it is a matter of huge concern that the Pakistan Censor Board has recently decided to debar the film. The disappointing decision to ban the film has created a hue and cry among writers, poets, and intellectuals in the literary circles of Pakistan. The film ban is being hugely protested as it’s considered a threatening attack to creative and artistic freedom of expression. It is therefore, appealed that the ban is dismissed with immediate effect.

Saadat Hassan Manto had faced persecution, torture and years of court trials during “Purana Pakistan”. Would the same dreadful fate befall the writers, particularly, ‘Manto’ in “Naya Pakistan”?

Signed by

1. I.A. Rehman, veteran Journalist and Rights Activist

2. Hussain Naqi, senior Journalist

3. Dr. Sadat Saeed, President PWA

4. Mirza Hamid Baig, Author

5. Salima Hashmi, Painter and Rights Activist

6. Nighat Manto, Manto’s daughter

7. Nusrat Manto, Manto’s daughter

8. Nuzhat Manto, Manto’s daughter

9. Mohammad Tehseen, Director SAP-PK

10. Beena Sarwar, Journalist

11. Almas Jovindah, Adv High Court

12. Ali Jaffer Zaidi, Anti-war Activist (London)

13. Saleem Asmi, Former Editor Dawn

14. Ammar Aziz, Documentary Filmmaker

15. Sehyr Mirza, Journalist and Peace Activist

16. Ammara Ahmed, Journalist

17. Maryam Saeed, Rights Activist

18. Nusrat Mirza, Social Activist

19. Saeed Ahmed, Journalist, Writer & Secretary General of Manto Memorial Society

Meanwhile, minister of information and broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has promised help to filmmaker Das with the release of Manto.

“I am trying to pursue importers to bring this movie to Pak, I hope someone will definitely take risk of showing a less commercial film to the viewers,” he said. Das thanked the minister and replied, “Shukriya @fawadchaudhry #FreeSpeech.”

Published in Daily Times, December 17^th2018.