‘Film censor board cannot ban vulgar CDs’

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Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry on Friday adjourned the hearing of a petition until the first week of September, seeking a ban on sale of vulgar CDs and stage dramas and their telecast on cable network.
Central Film Censor Board Vice Chairman Ashraf Gondal informed the court that it is not the board’s duty to monitor or ban sale of vulgar dance CDs and performances of stage dancers. He said that such activities fall under purview of the Motion Picture Ordinance while the board is only responsible to censor obscene dances from films. On this, the CJ remarked that it is a sensitive and serious issue so all sides should provide proper assistance to court.
The LHC CJ is hearing a case against singers Naseebo Lal and Nooran Lal for singing vulgar songs in 2009 and cable TV channels, whom are accused of spreading obscenity in society through their stage dramas and dances. He said that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) had not taken any action against them.
Petitioner Advocate Asif Mehmood Khan submitted that the departments concerned, in connivance with some other elements, were violating the law and the constitution by spoiling the integrity, sanctity and morality of society. He said Naseebo and Nooran Lal, along with other respondents, were busy in making and singing indecent and immoral songs. Asif said that the shelter given by the Punjab government to the singers under the Motion Picture Ordinance 1979 was of illegal and heinous nature against the integrity and sanctity of society.
The petitioner requested the court to impose a complete ban on all audio/video songs of the two singers. Previously, the court had ordered police to launch a crackdown against elements involved in this illegal business, observing that according to the constitution, Islam and Sunnah are the supreme laws of the land and no immoral activity could be allowed to continue. The senior superintendent of police (SSP) has been directed to submit a report within one month.

15 COMMENTS

  1. Yes.. Banning is futile. Educate the population about this menace BUT don't use a foreign language Qari as a tool of education. Religious CD are at par with porno CD's

  2. Public is responsible… As a muslim and being a human its our own responsability to choose what’s right and wrong. Its a personal act so public is responsible

  3. What government are we talking about? The one who is unable to focus on basic human requirements? Mate monitoring goods is a far cry for pakistan.. We need to feed the hungry stomachs and educate the illiterate minds first so that the majir chunk of society that buy such CDs shd be sensible enuff not to do so.

  4. Its cheap entertainment but it is an alarming threat for a muslim nation’s future… But who has the time to think about it? Subha hote hai sham hoote hai.. Zindage younhe tamam hoote hai

  5. Public is responsible! I believe that pakistan is one of the very few countries where an average joe blames the government for almost every single issue. No where across the globe are such things banned, even Saudi Arabia. Its each individual’s responsibility that they monitor their activities. Taking islam doesn’t equal walking it!

  6. The censor board is an anachronism. Pakistan cannot afford to cut itself off from the rest of the world. It will have to take things as they are. The isolationist thinking is dangerous for the country – because we will be lagging behind so many things. The country has to move ahead. Ideas cannot be censored, feelings cannot be censored. The government wanted to stop people from watching Indian films – but the technology breakthrough of the VCR changed all that. People watched more than Indian and American movies – they watched things which are strictly prohibited. Even before the VCRs, cinema halls were packed to capacity – because between the movies had the infamous 'tottas' which was the real reason why the cinema halls were filled. But with the VCR the peep shows which the cinema halls showed (with the tacit approval of the authorities – a film censored by the censor board was not really censored because all the members of the censored were bribed in allowing screening of movies) Cinema halls suffered because the VCR and the the vhs tape were not showing peep shows – but showing x-rated movies which went for hours. When there is wholesale corruption – how can the censor board do anything. PEMRA is an new development trying to show 'family' shows or shows meant for 'children' not adults. PEMRA is just as corrupt as any organisation which seeks to interfere in the entertainment of people. The VHS tape was replaced with the CD then DVD and now the MP4 players. How will the censor board or similar set up be in a position to stop these technologies from entering Pakistan and be used? Why does the government always go against the interest of the people. I suppose it is the result of five decades of decades of dictatorship – what the people want and what the rulers imagine people want are exactly the opposite.

  7. Why blame the poor governemnt that cant even answer itz own corrupt deeds???
    It definitely is the people who are responsible.. Parents majorly>> WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO MONITOR WHAT PROGRAMS THEIR CHILDREN SEE ON TV, WHAT WEBSITES THEY VISIT ON INTERNET!!.. Has anyone bothered to notice the standard of cartoons these days?? It starts there! the violence, the vulgarity, the hopelessness..

  8. Why blame the poor governemnt that cant even answer itz own corrupt deeds???
    It definitely is the people who are responsible.. Parents majorly>> WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO MONITOR WHAT PROGRAMS THEIR CHILDREN SEE ON TV, WHAT WEBSITES THEY VISIT ON INTERNET!!.. Has anyone bothered to notice the standard of cartoons these days?? It starts there! the violence, the vulgarity, the hopelessness..

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