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Earlier, a similar petition, that was later withdrawn, had been filed by a private television channel’s host in the Lahore High Court, which had pointed out that the censor board was issuing NOCs to film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.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
All such cases are of public interest and the court has no right whatsoever to decide what the public should watch. See crowds on cinemas on Dhoom 3 today. I think the court should refer such cases to elected governments. Simple!
P.S. These indian movies flooding cinemas are reaction to pakistani producers directing Gujjar, Jutt etc for long time. They should curse their creativity first. They should be put in competition.
nice....court bans movies meanwhile pakistan bowlers pulled back the run rate....international standard of editing ET ha!!