Petition seeking ban on ‘Khuda Kay Liye’
‘Movie an attempt to westernise Pakistan’ SHC asks petitioner to produce the text of the Qura’an and Hadith prohibiting music, pictures.
Karachi:The Sindh High Court (SHC), on Tuesday asked the counsel of the religious scholar who sought injunction against the exhibition of the film ‘Khuda Kay LiyeÂ’ to produce the text of the Qura’an and Hadith that prohibits music and pictures in Islam.
The court was hearing the petition of Saifullah Rabbani, a spokesman of Jamia Binoria Al-Alimi, SITE, who claimed that the film contained controversial scenes and the real face of Islam has been distorted in the story of the film.
The petitioner’s counsel Maqboolur Rehman said that the controversial movie has defamed the teachings of Islam and was promoting music and western culture. He alleged the film producer and director tried to create hatred against Islam and Jihad, which was having a negative impact on the minds of Muslims as well as people of other religions.
He claimed that the film had been banned in India and Europe but surprisingly it was being screened in Pakistan by the cinema owners. He said that Chairman Censor Board, who is the supervisory authority, has not banned the movie nor deleted the controversial scenes from it, which could create sectarian and religious hatred amongst the different sects of Muslims.
It was submitted that film artistes being Muslim used dialogues that were derogatory and insulting to religious feelings and emotions.
As the matter was taken up before the SHC’s division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro, the counsel placed Fatwas (religious decree) issued by religious institutions against the film. The court, however, asked the counsel to produce the text of the Holy Qura’an and Hadith that prohibited music and paintings in Islam. The petitioner’s counsel sought time to do so. The next hearing of the case has been adjourned to August 10.
The Sindh government through secretary culture, Geo TV, Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, Director Shoaib Mansoor, Censor Board, film actor Shan, film actresses Iman Ali and the owner of Prince Cinema were named as respondent in the petition.
The court was prayed to direct the government to ban the screening of the film and issue direction for initiating criminal proceedings against all the responsible respondents for creating religious hatred and using derogatory words against Islam. The petitioner also prayed the court to stay the release of ‘Khuda Kay Liye’ in cinema houses till the disposing of the petition.
Source: The News
Date:8/1/2007
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