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PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Thursday offered to permit the screening of recently banned film 'Maalik' in the province but the federal censor board hit back with a warning promising strict action against cinemas violating the Motion Pictures Ordinance 1979.
KP Information Adviser Mushtaq Ghani feels the film should be shown in the entire country.
"The filmmaker has made an effort to address corruption but the government has taken action against it and banned it. We have zero-tolerance for corruption here," he said, adding that after 18th amendment, censorship falls under the provinces.
"The government is against corruption, that's why KP has no objection to the film. If the producer comes to KP and asks to show the film in cinemas, we will facilitate them," Ghani told DawnNews.
Federal censor board chairman Mubashir Khan, however, pointed out that almost all cinemas in KP are located in cantonment areas, thereby falling under the Motion Picture Ordinance 1979. He said that strict action would be taken under the ordinance against cinemas that screened the banned film.
Khan said the film was banned to avoid a law and order situation in the country following public complaints.
The federal government banned the film nationwide in a notification issued Wednesday, declaring the Urdu feature film "uncertified" according to Section 9 of the Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979.
The film, released three weeks ago, had generated complaints regarding its controversial depiction of the Taliban and parallels with the assassination of a prominent government official by his personal security guard.
In a blink-and-you'll miss it move last night, the Sindh government decided to ban the film Maalik and then revoked that notice all in the space of a few hours.
The culture ministry had drafted a notification ordering a ban on the movie for being ‘biased’ and inciting violence.
However, before it was formally issued, the Sindh chief minister intervened and asked the ministry not to issue it as it would be ‘against the freedom of expression’.
The film team had assured the Sindh government objectionable scenes would be cut, but the film's certification was revoked as it wasn't done.
Comments (54) Closed
This is a wonderful step by the KP government! Where do the "liberals" stand on censorship now?
We can show vulgarity but we cannot show corruption being pointed out.
Banning this movie will only make it more popular. The days when Govts could control information are quickly coming to an end. We dont need the Govt to tell us what we can and cannot watch. Shameful decision by Federal Govt.
Ones who have seen the movie & have a sense will definitely favor ban.
mistake after mistake nawaz what are you doing????
@Shazia Bangash have u seen movie ?
See no evil, hear no evil.
PTI has no brains of itself. It only reacts to what PMLn does in capital
@Pink noise I have seen it and I strongly Disagree with you .
The World is planning to send astronauts to "Mars". We are stuck with issues like to sensor or not ! Sad !
@munib yes PTI doesnt have the brain PML(N) has...... The whole Nation observed it.
KPK Govt is fast going to the revolt.
Unity is the first and foremost requirement of a country to move forward. Acting in fragments never builds a strong nation.
In his quest for power IK is willing to support anyone and anything.
It is good to know that public at large want to watch the movie as the content of the movie will make you think as a citizen of Pakistan, it will make you laugh and it will make you clap.
"KP Govt. is against corruption, that's why KP has no objection to the film"
Where is freedom of speech? A society will never be progressive without freedoms and liberties.Denying expression is a form of propaganda too.
Why are we afraid if the movie insults Taliban?
The censor best described by "chore ki dhari me tinka"
there are several indain films with same theme, showing in Pakistan where the heroes killing the culprit politicians, but those were never banned here. Why such hypocrisy by the governement
@Shazia Bangash bashing 'liberals' for what reason?
I haven't seen the movie therefore can't comment much. However,if it targets particular segment of society or support particular groups then it may not be a valid movie. Why, because my personal view is that whole society to an extent is corrupt and hypocrite. We say or support things that we don't like to do ourselves.
@Rizwan spot on
Remove the ban. Let the people decide whether they like it or not.
Political point scoring
Interesting to watch reaction of "free speech" flag bearers.
I think if there is nothing against Islam & Pakistan then this film should be allowed but only after cutting the vulgar dance scene as appeared in the official trailer shown on TV. What is wrong if the person taking oath declares that he is the maalik of the voters. Is this not what is being practiced by leaders in Pakistan.
@Pink noise : Exactly, so let us see and decide?
MAALIK is creating a law and order situation....what a joke man???
@Pink noise why it should be ban? What's ur take on it?
Did we not see a similar plot in Indian Movie Rang De Basanti - students taking vigilante action against a corrupt minister?
Stupid decision!!
The other name of PML N is corruption.So how could they allow this?
It is really silly mistake of NAwaz Sharif to Ban that movie.
It is astonishing how backward this country has become in the last about 30 years! What is wrong if a point of view is shown in a movie which may partly be based on fact. It seems, the State is given in to a few extremists and fanatics.
common KP we all are wth u...proud to be Pakhtoon
If cinemas in cantonments came under federal government then APS is also in cantonment. Therefore its was also federal government responsibility.
This tit for tat by pti is absurd
Bravo KPK
Excellent work by KPK Gov
Malik You are welcome in the land of justice kpk
There is just 2 cinemas which comes under cantonment jurisdiction
One prc mardan One in at peshawar mall road
All others comes in kpk jurisdiction
@M.Saeed It is good that at least the KP gov. is going to revolt. Just you see our politician what they are doing in the name of democracy. These only 20% ruling class are on our head. The election is not going to change any more. Because majority are illiterate and they do not have any authority. The politician are making Green Line, Blue Line, Metro and big bridges but they will not invest in education. They know this is only thing the ordinary people could see their real face.
We can show ridiculous vulgarity which is in no way part of culture but we cannot show corruption in a movie. That's just great.
They are going to make the film hit by banning it! Even people who probably would not have seen the movie are now curious about it and watch it.
Wrong move again...
The public is mature enough to reject the movie and cause it to flop. The Govt. should not under estimate the IQ of the public.
I am not a fan of PTI but their performance is for better than the previous two governments in KPK. Law and order and roads conditions have improved tremendously.
A movie by a minority member targeting the elite and corrupt politicians and civil servants is not acceptable by the establishment !
It is just a film... What's the big deal. I just can't understand why are people taking it to heart? Haven't people saw violence in any commercial film before? Perhaps some characters resemble so much to their own personalities that it is not acceptable for them. How sad!!!
So a government steeped in corruption decides to censure a movie against corruption! Three weeks after it has been shown all over Pakistan.
I have seen the movie and am convinced that the censor board's action is highly political, protective of corruption, against free speech and democracy and therefore illegal.
So the govt has no problem issuing visa to Kabir Khan who made anti Pakistan movies BUT they are quick to censor this movie. I think we know where their sympathies lie.
Is the movie banned simply because political corruption is the theme? That's outrageous. We run the serious risk that the politicians and bureaucrats calling these shots will turn the country into a discredited state.
I don't care about the movie or the people involved but I do care about the law and order. If we let everyone do what they want then we won't have a country but a patch of land ruled by warlords and mercenaries
There was a lawyer interviewed by a TV channel and she was of the opinion that it's not illegal if KPK ( or any other province) screens the movie and that Federal can not tell any province to ban a particular film.
That is how honest elected government officals supose to behav. Wise decision taken by KP Information Adviser Mushtaq Ghani. Only few corrupt's government official would be afraid to show this movie to public in their areas.