The Islamabad district administration has sealed Cineplex, the only cinema in the federal capital Islamabad located at Centaurus Mall, and arrested five of its employees for screening movies at ‘Iftar time’, local media reported on Sunday.
The administration closed the cinema for an indefinite period under the Ehteram-i-Ramazan Ordinance, which prohibits screening of movies during Iftar and Taraveeh.
“Following a complaint by a citizen, we raided the Centaurus shopping mall and sealed Cineplex for screening a film during Ramazan,” said Abdul Sattar Esani, additional deputy commissioner general, adding that the cinema could remain sealed for a maximum of six months under the ordinance besides imposition of fine.
Islamabad used to have three cinemas: Nafdec, Melody and Sitara Market, which were closed due to various reasons, including riots, in which the Melody Cinema was burnt. With the sealing of Cineplex, the two million residents of Islamabad are likely to have a dull Eid, said the report.