Indian films being smuggled into Pakistan for commercial viewing in cinemas. DESIGN: JAMAL KHURSHID
The Lahore High Court on Friday barred the Pakistan Film Censor Board from issuing No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to Indian films that were being smuggled into Pakistan for commercial viewing in cinemas.
Justice Muhammad Khalid Mahmood Khan passed this order on a petition moved by Pakistan’s film producers and directors.
Earlier, a similar petition, that was later withdrawn, had been filed by a private television channel’s host in the Lahore High Court, which had pointed out that the censor board was issuing NOCs to film distributors on grounds of fake certificates of origin.
According to the rules, films shot outside India are eligible for a NOC and hence can be exhibited in Pakistan. However, petitioners had alleged that film distributors had been submitting fake certificates of origin, and the censor board was issuing NOCs without ascertaining whether the film had actually been shot in India or not.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2013.
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