Centaurus Cineplex in Islamabad issued notices for screening movies during fasting hours

Centaurus Cineplex directed to submit reply by 30th

ISLAMABAD: A court has issued notices to a multiplex for violating Ehtram-e-Ramazan law by screening movies during fasting hours.

Civil Judge Mian Azhar Nadeem issued notices to Centaurus Cineplex, Ministry of Culture Secretariat and Margalla Police Station SHO after a citizen petitioned the court saying the cinema was screening Indian movies during Ramazan in violation of Ehtram-e-Ramazan Ordinance 1981.

Syed Bilal Ahmad, the petitioner, said in the petition that he was visiting the Centaurus Mall on June 20 when he came to know that the cinema was screening films during daytime as well.

He said he told cinema staff that screening films during hours of fasting was illegal and requested them to close the cinema but they did not.

Ahmad said he also approached Ministry of Culture Secretariat and requested them to bar the multiplex from screening films before Iftar but no action was taken.

The petitioner also produced booking tickets before the court showing movie timings in the afternoon, and prayed before the court to direct the owners to close the cinema during fasting hours in Ramazan.

The court has directed the respondents to submit their replies by June 30th.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2016.