LAHORE Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued a notice to the federal government to submit its reply on a petition challenging a countrywide ban on the film Maalik. The petition will be next heard on May 17.

Petitioner Mehboob Alam advocate submitted that corruption and some social issues had been highlighted in the movie which did not hurt sovereignty of the state or social values. However, the government banned its exhibition all over the country, he said, arguing that a movie or a theatrical performance meant for social development could not be banned.

The petitioner requested the court to set aside the notification banning exhibition of the movie.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2016