The Lahore High Court Friday directed the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) to get it verified from the Pakistani embassy in India that whether the shooting of an Indian movie, Rambo Rajkumar, was done in England or India.
Justice Muhammad Khalid Mahmood Khan passed the orders on a petition moved by film importers seeking permission for screening of the film, Rambo Rajkumar, in Pakistan.
As the hearing started on Friday, the counsel on the behalf of film importers submitted that the Pakistan Film Censor Board was not allowing exhibition of the film due to a stay order issued by this court against exhibition of illegally-imported films.
He contended that the petitioner had fulfilled all legal formalities in importing Rambo Rajkumar and that the shooting of this film was done in England, not in India.
He requested the court to allow screening of this film in Pakistan as the petitioners would suffer an acute loss if the ban would not be lifted.
However, the Pakistan Film Censor Board’s law officer told the court that the shooting of this film was done in India, and under the law its exhibition in the Pakistan could not be permitted.
At this, the judge observed that the exhibition of illegally-imported films could not be allowed in Pakistan at any cost.
After hearing arguments from both the sides, the court directed the attorney general to verify from the Pakistan embassy in India whether the shooting of the impugned film was done in England or India.
The court adjourned hearing till December 12.
The petitioner had submitted that Indian films were being smuggled to Pakistan illegally and the Pakistan Censor Board was issuing illegal licenses to these films having fake documentations. He requested the court to direct the customs authorities to stop this illegal practice and initiate action under the Customs Act against relaying smuggled films. He also prayed that the Censor Board chairman should be directed to stop issuing fake licenses to all smuggled Indian films.
