The banning of a feature film will, in no way, wash the stains of corruption and wrongdoings of those in authority
LAHORE: Freedom of speech and expression in Pakistan became possible only during the rule of a military dictator, General (retd) Parvez Musharraf. It was, during his regime that the citizens of Pakistan finally experienced a free media, which was given a free hand to discuss every subject under the sun. It is shameful that the feature film Maalik has been banned by a democratically-elected government from being screened in Pakistan, only because it depicted the prevailing corruption of the highest order in the country.
The banning of a feature film will, in no way, wash the stains of corruption and wrongdoings on the faces of the people in authority. Rather, it will put a stamp of the truth, a reality which is not hidden from the eyes of the masses. All over the civilised world, feature films, stage shows, and television serials are presented on a variety of subjects — even at times directly targeting the sitting government — but you don’t see such bans being imposed. In neighbouring India, moviegoers have seen many movies highlighting the injustice and corruption existing in Indian society. What message is our democratic government trying to convey to the world? Today, Maalik has been banned; tomorrow, it will be the turn of the Oscar-winning documentary A Girl in the River by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and this will keep going on until one day, the free media will be trapped by serious shackles. With such uncivilised and unethical tactics, especially at a time when the Panama leaks controversy is at its peak, a layman will be left with no option but to believe that there is something that our leaders are trying to hide. The authorities probably forgot about modern technological advancements as now more and more people will be interested in watching the movie on the internet. Moreover, it is quite possible that Maalik will now do soaring business across the border and all over the world.
Aamir Aqil
Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2016.
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