Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, along with lawyer Munir Ahmad, filed a petition before the Lahore High Court, challenging ban on exhibition of Pakistani feature film ‘Maalik’.

Earlier, on a petition of a lawyer Mehboob Alam, Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza had already sought reply from the federal government regarding the ban.

Mehmoodur Rasheed’s counsel Sheraz Zaka stated that the ministry of information, broadcasting and heritage, through a notification on April 27, had imposed ban on exhibition of this film. He stated that earlier the censor board had given approval for exhibition of this film.

He stated that after 18th amendment, the government had no authority to impose ban on any film and the matter pertaining to motion pictures has been devolved to provinces. He stated that the film was on the topic of corruption issue, which was hot in the prevailing circumstances after Panama leaks and would not create any unrest among the masses.

He stated that the film neither was against the sovereignty of the state nor it was against the social values but even then the government had banned exhibition of the film in cinemas across the country. He stated that it was high time when the people should be informed on the evils of corruption.

Zaka said that the media of film was always used to create awareness against the evils, adding that the film was based on social norms and values in our society and against the menace of corruption. He said that movie or drama made for the social development couldn’t be banned, and requested the court to set aside the notification-banning exhibition of movie.

Munir Ahmad’s counsel Muhammad Azhar Siddique stated that Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif, after the revelations of Panama leaks, was behaving strangely. “He has addressed the nation twice in a short period of time without any particular or strong purpose and requirement. Now the prime minister has started a series of public procession and rallies all over Pakistan in order to distract the attention of the nation from serious allegations of corruption, money laundering and tax evasion levelled against him and his family,” he added.

However, in all processions, the council said, PM did not answer any single question or allegation levelled against him and he is simply announcing the development projects in the respective constituencies only to decrease the wrath against him, which has been developed in the masses after the Panama leaks. In addition, he added, the recent ban on Urdu feature film ‘Maalik’ has added fuel to the fire, as the subject and theme of this film is based on corruption, nepotism and misuse of powers of the ruling elite.

He stated that after Panama leaks, the said feature film would have probably proved helpful to understand the method, process and mechanism under which the ruling elite misuse their powers and play with the national interests of Pakistan. Resultantly, this movie was not acceptable due to its theme, so the federal government, with the connivance of the ministry, issued the impugned notification.

He stated that the impugned notification proves that the ministry had not only exceeded from its powers while issuing the notification but has also tried to assault the real essence of 18th amendment only to cure the corrupt political elite of the government. “The movie was aired and played in cinemas of Pakistan for at least fifteen days and without any reasons (censor certificate or declaring the film uncertified), no opportunity of hearing was granted to producers and directors, which is sheer violation of Article 10-A of the Constitution of Pakistan,” he added.

He sated that the people of Pakistan have fundamental rights to view the movie and any action in violation of Article 19 is void in term of Article 8 and the impugned notification is not in accordance with law as directed in Articles 4 and 5 of the constitution.