LAHORE: Caretaker Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Amir Mir says more than 10 mega commercial theatres of Lahore division have been sealed for violating the Drama Act (Dramatic Performances Act 1876) and they will be allowed to reopen after the implementation of the new rules.

While talking to the media, the minister said that after repeated warnings, the theatre owners and drama producers had given written assurances to the Lahore commissioner that they would not promote obscenity through women dancers; however, these assurances proved to be false and indecency continued. He said the Punjab government was forced to seal more than 10 theatres.

Mr Mir said besides four theatre of Kasur and Sheikhupura, the owners of Tamaseel Theatre, Al-Falah Theatre, Shama Theatre, Naz Theatre, Mehfil Theatre and Sitara Theatre of Lahore had also submitted written guarantees to Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa that they would refrain from obscenity through vulgar dancers. However, when these theatres were raided last night, it was found that the Drama Act was being violated so these theatres had been sealed for an indefinite period.

The minister said violation of the Drama Act in the commercial theatres was violation of the sanctity of traditional theatres as theatre was considered the most powerful performing arts medium.

Govt to amend laws for complete ban on dance in stage plays

The minister said the Punjab government had decided to amend the Drama Act to ban dances in the stage plays and heavy fines and the ban would be imposed on theatre owners and producers for committing violations.

“The government has started the process of amendments to the Drama Act and now the theatres which are spreading vulgarity will be opened only after the amendments in the Drama Act.”

Mir said the theatres and stage plays going on in other cities of Punjab were being closely monitored so that immediate action could be taken there also against the violation of the Drama Act.

In a tweet from the handle of minister information Punjab, Mr Mir said a crackdown had started and all theatres of the Lahore division had been sealed.

He added in subsequent tweets that “the Punjab Arts Council had been entrusted with the task to monitor all theatres and stage plays across Punjab and theatre wherever obscenity would be found would be sealed, producer would be blacklisted while the dancer would be completely banned”.

He tweeted that Commissioner Randhawa had raided Tamaseel Theatre late at night on receiving a complaint of ‘obscene mujra’ and the theatre was sealed. He said theatres in Sheikhupura and Kasur had also been sealed on receiving complaints.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2023