LAHORE: With the Maryam Nawaz government is set to introduce a new law to bring ‘stricter punishment’ for those involved in in promoting ‘vulgarity and immorality’ in commercial theatres across the province, some senior artists want a concerted effort to address the root of the problem instead of indulging in cosmetic measures.

The ‘anti-obscenity drive’ against commercial theatres has also raised questions whether it is aimed at some political mileage with regard to the PMLN government’s so-called positive image building or it would address the menace once for all. It is also being suspected by some stakeholders that this move might end up in further empowering the local administration to have their say in running the show at their will.

Of late, on such encouragement from the provincial administration, the Kasur police indulged in moral policing, raided a private dance party at a farmhouse and made videos of 25 women and 30 men. Not only that, the police officers uploaded them on social media, drawing strong public criticism for defaming them with a sense of impunity.

“A new law for theatres will be introduced next week. If any theatre is found promoting vulgarity it will first be issued three show-cause notices and if non-compliance continues a lifetime ban will be imposed on it,” Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said.

Theatre veterans look askance at the move, saying punishing actors will do no good

She added all stakeholders had been taken on board regarding the new theatre law. She claimed that the new law was aimed at promoting quality entertainment, declaring that theatre should be completely family-friendly.

Ms Bokhari further said if any officer of her department was found assisting those promoting obscenity, he would be immediately dismissed from service. She said the Punjab Censor Board would also be reconstituted within a few days to safeguard cultural values.

Earlier, Azma Bokhari made it clear that the Punjab government had plans to impose a lifetime ban on the actors, especially women dancers, involved in promoting immorality and indecency during theatre performances.

“We have decided to impose a lifetime ban on the actors in promoting vulgarity and indecency in theatres in the province. All theatres have also been instructed to comply with the rules. Violations will lead to show-cause notices followed by fines and eventually license cancellations,” she declared.

Last week, the information and culture minister conducted surprise visits to various theatres in Lahore and issued show-cause notices to five actors, namely Neeli, Saima Khan, Nayab Khan, Sajan Abbas and Sonu Butt.

The minister said vulgarity and obscenity would not be tolerated in Punjab’s theatres. She also claimed that she had received threats for her efforts to purge commercial theatres of vulgarity.

Commenting on the matter, renowned senior theatre actor Khalid Abbas Dar said that if the government was really serious about addressing the issue of obscenity in commercial theatres, it should hold only the theatre owners responsible for it instead of actors.

“No actor goes for obscene performance without the blessings of the authorities concerned,” he told Dawn on Saturday.

Mr Dar also said that contemporary commercial threats were not theatres but ‘dance clubs’ and initiating action against ‘women dancers’ would not help address this serious issue.

Speaking to Dawn, eminent theatre actor Sohail Ahmad said the prevailing theatre situation really pained him.

“What to talk about commercial theatre in Punjab...it has become a public toilet. We will have to make our corrections ourselves... no one will come from outside to tell us what wrong we have done to our theatre. The most terrible part of it is glorifying bad deeds.”

Mr Ahmad, who distanced himself from the theatre for the last 17 years, further said: “short-cut to money and fame’ had destroyed the theatre.

“An artist is not materialistic. If he/she becomes so, the art declines and then selling non-artistic things like obscenity seems to be the only choice for money making.”

He said it was often said that it’s public choice.

“They say that the people want to see what theatre is offering. This is a wrong perception. If an artist makes a quality product, the people will watch it.”

To a question about the government’s some strict measures to purge the commercial theatre of immorality and nudity, Sohail Ahmad said: “Strict laws to regulate theatre is a must and their implementation in letter and spirit is the main thing. Mere penalizing so-called theatre artists will do no good.”

He was of the opinion that only a very serious and sincere effort by the authorities concerned could address the deep issue.

Last year, in an attempt to curtail obscenity in the commercial theatre, the Punjab government had approved some amendments to the 150-year-old Dramatic Performances Act 1876, transferring the administrative affairs of the dramatic performances from the home department to the Information and Culture Department.

Before the Maryam government, the caretaker government of Mohsin Naqvi had also launched a so-called anti-obscenity drive in Punjab and banned a number of female actors from the commercial theatre. His administration had sealed more than 10 mega commercial theatres of Lahore and adjoining districts for violating the Drama Act (Dramatic Performances Act 1876) and promoting obscenity through women dancers. Later, the theatres were unsealed by the Lahore High Court.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2025