Court warns stay on screening of Indian film ‘Kaala’ if parties fail to respond

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LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday warned that it would stay the screening of Indian Tamil-language film Kaala, starring Rajinikanth in the lead, if all parties to the case fail to submit their responses by November 16 to a petition seeking a ban on its release.

A petition filed in October by filmmaker Sohail Ahmed Khan, also a member of the Pakistan Film Producers’ Association, argued that the release of Indian films in Pakistan has an adverse effect on the local film industry.

Khan’s lawyer Amir Saeed, who appeared before court on the producer’s behalf, alleged that recently released Bollywood film Thugs of Hindostan featuring Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan had been released in local cinemas illegally.

The high court issued notices to the Central Board of Film Certification, the Information Ministry, the Commerce Ministry and the federal government.

Furthermore, private cinema owners, on Tuesday requested to become party in the case and were directed to submit their responses to the court by November 16.

The censor board, ministries of commerce and information and the federal government have already submitted their replies in the court.