Freedom of expression: Govt issued notice on Maalik ban challenge

Petitioner says federal govt lacks authority to ban the screening

LAHORE: Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza of Lahore High Court (LHC) issued notices on Monday to the federal government and others on petitions challenging the ban on the screening of film Maalik.

The judge sought replies from federal and Punjab governments and the film censor board by May 11.

Abdullah Malik had filed the petition through Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique submitting that on April 27 the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Heritage had issued a notification banning the exhibition of the film.

He submitted that the censor board had earlier approved the film for a screening. He said that after the 18th Amendment the federal government had no authority to impose such a ban.

Malik said the film was about corruption which he said was a burning issue in view of the Panama Papers scandal. He said the screening would not cause unrest. He alleged that the notice had been issued to protect the federal government.

“The film is about social norms and values. It is against the menace of corruption. A movie or a drama produced to promote social development cannot be banned,” the petitioner said. He said the ministry had exceeded its powers while issuing the notification. It had also harmed the real essence of the 18th Amendment, he said.

“The movie was shown in the cinemas for at least 15 days... no opportunity of hearing was granted to the producer and director of the movie.”

He said that the people of Pakistan had the right to watch the movie under Article 19 of the Constitution. He said the notification was not in accordance with Articles 4 (Right of individuals to be dealt with in accordance with law) and 5 (Loyalty to state and obedience to the Constitution and law) of the Constitution.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2016.