Ban on 'Maalik' is illegal, director tells SHC

Ashar Azeem challenges nationwide ban on his directorial debut in Sindh High Court

KARACHI: Military-drama Maalik's director Ashar Azeem filed a petition in the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday to challenge the nationwide ban on his directorial debut.

"The ban is illegal and it is our right to challenge it in the SHC," Azeem said while speaking to media representatives.

The director pleaded the court to suspend the ban on the screening of the movie.

"The ban is illegal and unjustified," he said, adding the film had received clearance from the censor board.



Azeem said he had written the film's script 12 years ago but began producing it two years back.

Nearly three weeks after its release, Ashir Azeem’s directorial debut Maalik landed in hot waters when the film was banned all across the country by the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage on Wednesday.

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According to a notification issued, the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, and National Heritage declared the film ‘uncertified’ according to Section 9 of the Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979.

“The information ministry reserves the right to ban any film at any time.Maalik has been banned because it shows a former chief minister as a man of corruption and opulence,” a ministry official, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune.