LHC seeks response from govt on Hafiz Saeed’s petition to ban Indian film

Saeed's counsel argues there is direct threat to petitioner’s and his associates’ lives emanating from content...

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued a notice to the federal government seeking its response on a petition filed by Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed who had challenged the planned exhibition of Indian movie Phantom in Pakistan.

Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan of the LHC directed the government to file its response before August 13, the next date of hearing.

During the hearing, Saeed’s counsel requested the court to issue a stay order, contending that the movie was against the integrity of Pakistan.

However, the judge ruled that it was necessary to hear the respondents first.

Read: LHC asked to prevent film screening

JuD spokesperson and Hafiz Saeed’s brother-in-law Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki was also present during the proceedings. Replying to a question after the proceedings, Makki said this was only the beginning of their litigation against the movie, adding that JuD would get it banned on every medium including the Internet, in cinemas and on CDs, DVDs.

In his petition, Saeed had contended that the JuD was a charitable organisation and has no connection with the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The petitioner also submitted a CD containing a copy of the movie's trailer, and added that television footage of Hafiz Saeed was included in the movie.

Read: Saif Ali Khan's quest to kill Mumbai attack mastermind 'Hariz' Saeed

Saeed's counsel AK Dogar said that there was a direct threat to the petitioner and his associates’ lives owing to the content of the trailer and added that the petitioner’s grievance is that the film has been advertised to be exhibited in Pakistan. He said it was necessary to restrain the film from exhibition in Pakistan.

He added that the security of life is the fundamental right of the petitioner and his associates and it is the duty of the state to prevent any foreign country from threatening Pakistani citizens. Further, he appealed to the court to direct the government to take action through its High Commission in India to stop the movie from being shown in Pakistan.

The movie is scheduled to be released in Pakistan on August 28.