LHC bans illegal screening of Indian films
20 November, 2013
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday imposed ban on exhibition of Indian films in Pakistan, which are brought through smuggling or any other illegal means.
Justice Mohammad Khalid Mehmood Khan of the LHC ordered that no foreign or Indian film could be exhibited which brought into country in violation of the law. He also ordered the chairman Pakistan Film Censor Board to ensure that department did not issue license to any Indian film brought in the country through fake documents.
The judge also issued notices to the federal government and other respondents for November 25.
He issued the directions on a petition moved by anchor of a private channel challenging smuggling of Indian films and their exhibition in Pakistan.
Petitioner counsel submitted that people smuggled Indian films and Pakistan Censor Board was issuing illegal licenses to these films having fake documentation. He submitted that Indian films smuggled could not be screened in Pakistani cinemas but these were illegally screened in local cinemas.
He said foreign films, except Indian, could be screened in Pakistan and those Indian films which were shoot completely at foreign location could be displayed in the country.
He said the promoters had recently smuggled a number of films, which were completely shoot in India and were being shown in Pakistani cinemas under the category of foreign films and censor board issued fake licenses to such films.
He alleged that the Indian films were promoting terrorism and lawlessness in Pakistan and requested that the Ministry of Interior should be directed to initiate under the Terrorist Act against all those involved in smuggling Indian films to Pakistan. He also requested to direct the custom authorities to stop this illegal practice and initiate action under the Custom Act against relaying smuggled films.
End.
|
