Govt given time in Maalik ban case
LAHORE – The Lahore High Court yesterday gave time to the federal government until June 3 to submit reply in a petition challenging ban on film ‘Maalik’. Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza of the LHC took up the petition. Punjab Assembly opposition leader Mian Mehmood Rasheed of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf filed petition through Advocate Sheraz Zaka while a citizen Munir Ahmad filed the petitions through Advocate Azhar Siddique against the ban on exhibition of the film.
Munir Ahmad through his application stated that Punjab censor board allowed exhibition of the film and issued the certificate for airing it but now the pressure was being built to withdraw the certificate. He alleged that during the hearing of main petition the government counsel told lies about ban and mislead the court.He pleaded the court to issue directions to the concerned authorities for action against them including registration of criminal cases and immediate directions for allowing the film to be aired for public entertainment.The ministry of information, broadcasting and heritage through a notification of April 27 had imposed ban on exhibition of this film.
The petitioners submitted that after 18th amendment the government had no authority to impose ban on any film and the matter pertaining to motion pictures had been devolved to provinces. He pleaded that the film was on the topic of corruption issue, which was hot in the prevailing circumstances after Panama Leaks, and it would not create any unrest among the masses.He submitted that film neither was against the sovereignty of the state nor it was against the social values but even then the government had banned exhibition of film in cinemas across the country.He said that it was high time when the people should be informed about the evils of corruption.
He said that the people of Pakistan have fundamental rights to view the movie in view of the Article, 19 and any action in violation of Article 19 is void in term of Article 8 and the impugned Notification is not in accordance with law as directed in Articles 4 and 5 of the Constitution of Islamic.
Meanwhile, the arguments of the Punjab government were in progress when the Lahore High Court adjourned hearing on petitions against construction of Orange Line project till today (Tuesday).
Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) yesterday rejected a resolution challenging proposal of establishing more regional benches of the provincial high court. Allah Bakhsh Gondal advocate moved the resolution saying that establishment of more regional benches would damage the significance of Lahore High Court. During the general house meeting, a larger number of lawyers were present there. The bar accepted another resolution which was filed to include Sahiwal division with the principal seat of the high court. Meanwhile, the members of the Gujranwala division attended the meeting, voted in the favor of benches of the court. They also staged a rally on The Mall to press their demand.
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