‘Objectionable content’: SC tells govt to stop harassing film director
Meanwhile, the CBFC admitted before the court that the ban had been imposed without investigating complainants
Chairman contended that the film contained a scene in which a character states: ‘All state institutions have failed to perform their functions and the judiciary is good for nothing … and the whole system will collapse.” PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court urged on Friday the federal government to stop harassing the director of feature film ‘Maalik’ and submit a report on objectionable content in the movie.
Meanwhile, the Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) admitted before the court that the ban on ‘Maalik’ had been imposed without investigating complainants.
The court observed that there was nothing objectionable in the film under Section 9 of the Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979.
The two-judge bench, comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Qazi Faez Isa, is hearing the federal government’s appeal against the Sindh High Court judgment.
On Friday, Chairman of the censor board Mubashir Hassan said that the board had banned the film on several complaints by general public as politicians and judiciary were maligned in the film. He, however, admitted that no inquiry was held into the allegations.
“You did not hold the inquiry so you prima facie violated the law,” observed Justice Qazi.
Upon this the censor board chief told that notices were served on members of the board, asking them to give reasons for the ban.
“You issued notices to the members, did you issue notice to yourself? You approved the screening of film and the next day you banned it when your mood changed on a single phone. Isn’t it the way of corruption? What is it that you people actually want? Do you want to screen Indian movies and devastate Pakistani film industry?” Justice Qazi asked the censor board chief.
Chairman contended that the film contained a scene in which a character states: ‘All state institutions have failed to perform their functions and the judiciary is good for nothing … and the whole system will collapse.”
Justice Qazi said: “Don’t worry about us and our job … you do your own job.”
“Don’t encroach upon our domain and don’t become our (judiciary’s) guardians,” Qazi said.
The case was later adjourned for two weeks.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 8th, 2016.
The Supreme Court urged on Friday the federal government to stop harassing the director of feature film ‘Maalik’ and submit a report on objectionable content in the movie.
Meanwhile, the Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) admitted before the court that the ban on ‘Maalik’ had been imposed without investigating complainants.
The court observed that there was nothing objectionable in the film under Section 9 of the Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979.
The two-judge bench, comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Qazi Faez Isa, is hearing the federal government’s appeal against the Sindh High Court judgment.
On Friday, Chairman of the censor board Mubashir Hassan said that the board had banned the film on several complaints by general public as politicians and judiciary were maligned in the film. He, however, admitted that no inquiry was held into the allegations.
“You did not hold the inquiry so you prima facie violated the law,” observed Justice Qazi.
Upon this the censor board chief told that notices were served on members of the board, asking them to give reasons for the ban.
“You issued notices to the members, did you issue notice to yourself? You approved the screening of film and the next day you banned it when your mood changed on a single phone. Isn’t it the way of corruption? What is it that you people actually want? Do you want to screen Indian movies and devastate Pakistani film industry?” Justice Qazi asked the censor board chief.
Chairman contended that the film contained a scene in which a character states: ‘All state institutions have failed to perform their functions and the judiciary is good for nothing … and the whole system will collapse.”
Justice Qazi said: “Don’t worry about us and our job … you do your own job.”
“Don’t encroach upon our domain and don’t become our (judiciary’s) guardians,” Qazi said.
The case was later adjourned for two weeks.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 8th, 2016.