Lahore court orders lawful action in song shooting case

Published August 14, 2020
Petitioner seeks action against Bilal Saeed, Saba Qamar and the production house of the music video for shooting scenes in Lahore's Wazir Khan Mosque. — Farooq Soomro/File
Petitioner seeks action against Bilal Saeed, Saba Qamar and the production house of the music video for shooting scenes in Lahore's Wazir Khan Mosque. — Farooq Soomro/File

LAHORE: A sessions court on Thursday directed the Akbari Gate police station house officer to proceed in accordance with law on an application seeking registration of a case against actor Saba Qamar, singer Bilal Saeed and others for shooting a song video in historic Masjid Wazir Khan.

Advocate Sardar Farhat Manzoor Khan had filed the petition pleading that he submitted an application to the Akbari Gate SHO for registration of an FIR against the culprits for violating the sanctity of the mosque.

The lawyer contended that the culprits trampled upon the sanctity of the mosque by their act which also sparked an outrage among the citizens.

He asked the court to order the police to lodge a case against the persons involved in the illegal act. Besides the actor and the singer, the petitioner also sought action against the production house of the music video and officials of the Auqaf department who permitted the shooting.

The lawyers on behalf of the Auqaf department and the actors opposed the petition saying no offence had been committed. They said the video shooting was held with the permission of the department after payment of official fee of Rs30,000. They said the chief minister had already taken notice of the matter and ordered an inquiry into the matter.

A counsel said they had already tendered an unconditional apology on various forums.

After hearing the arguments, Additional District and Sessions Judge Attiqur Rehman directed the SHO to decide the application of the petitioner, without going into the facts of the instant petition, and proceed against the proposed accused if any cognizable offence was made out.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2020

Opinion

Enter the deputy PM

Enter the deputy PM

Clearly, something has changed since for this step to have been taken and there are shifts in the balance of power within.

Editorial

All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...
Weathering the storm
Updated 29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

Let 2024 be the year when we all proactively ensure that our communities are safeguarded and that the future is secure against the inevitable next storm.
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...