ISLAMABAD: The district administration on Saturday sealed Cineplex, the only cinema in the federal capital located at Centaurus Mall, and arrested five of its employees for screening movies at ‘Iftar time’.

The administration closed the cinema for an indefinite period under the Ehteram-i-Ramazan Ordinance, which prohibits screening of movies during Iftar and Taraveeh.

The fun-starved people of the federal capital expressed their fear that they would be deprived of entertainment during Eid days as Islamabad has no other cinema.

“Following a complaint by a citizen, we raided the Centaurus shopping mall and sealed Cineplex for showing film during Ramazan,” said Abdul Sattar Esani, additional deputy commissioner general.

Sources said during the raid fear and panic gripped the people visiting the Mall for Eid shopping.

It is relevant to note here that it was only entertaining place for around two million citizens of the federal capital.

“At the moment, I can’t say when the cinema will be reopened. Besides fine, the cinema could be sealed for a maximum of six months under the ordinance,” Mr Esani said and added that cases against the arrested employees of the cinema would be registered under the ordinance.

Islamabad used to have three cinemas: Nafdec, Melody and Sitara Market, which were closed due to various reasons, including riots, in which the Melody Cinema was burnt.

“Being a citizen, I have serious concerns about the closure of the cinema. I will request the authorities concerned to open the cinema for Eid, as in the federal capital we have no alternative source of entertainment,” said Mohammad Ishtiaq, a frequent customer to the Centaurus Shopping Mall.

Despite repeated attempts, the Cineplex administration could not be approached for comments.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2014