Director Ashir Azeem challenged the ban by the federal government on his film Maalik in Sindh High Court on Friday (today).
Azeem said in his petition the ban on the film is illegal. The petition further stated the film has been made with the approval of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) and does not contain anything that goes against public interest.
LHC issues notice to federal govt
Earlier, the Lahore High Court served a notice to the federal government on Friday, asking it to clarify its position on the ban of screening the recently release Urdu film Maalik.
The notice was issued after LHC Justice Shams Mehmboob Mirza heard the written petition filed by Mehboob Alam, a lawyer in Lahore. Alam, through his petition, challenged the decision of the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage that banned the screening of the aforementioned film.
Saim Choudhry, the petitioner’s lawyer said the ban came after the censor board approved the movie for screening. “Therefore, the federal government cannot ban it nor does it have the jurisdiction to do so,” the court was told.
Choudhry said the film is neither anti-Pakistan nor anti-Islam. “It is only anti-corruption. Therefore, there is no reason to ban the film,” Choudhry said.
