LAHORE, Nov 23: The Punjab government has banned eight stage artistes, including controversial Nargis, with an immediate effect for further performance in plays being held in the provincial metropolis for "vulgar dances and obscene dialogues."

Under a notification (No 13-60-H-SPL II\2004) issued by the home department here on Tuesday, four female artistes and as many male have been banned for the remaining period of the plays they are performing in.

The artistes are Nargis, Nadia Ali, Sidra, Megha, Tahir Anjum, Mujahid Rana, Najam Zaidi and Anwar Ali. They are performing in "Do Kabootriyan" at the Alfalah Theatre, "Badshah-o-Badshah" at Mahfil Theatre and "Raqas Main Hay Sara Jehan" at the Naz Theatre.

The notification says: "The artistes are found to have depraving and corrupting the persons present at the place of performance and as such creating law and order situation."

They have been prohibited to perform under Section 3 of the Dramatic Performance Act 1876. The artistes have violated the approved script of the drama, the notification says.

"Vulgar and suggestive language has been used, besides the female artistes performed highly objectionable\ vulgar dances with obscene and low neck dresses". It says that continuation of such scandalous or defamatory performance exciting the feeling of disaffection to the government established by law and corrupting the persons present at the performance is detrimental to the established norms of society, entailing ill-will\unrest in society as well as serious law and order situation.

In case of violation of the order, necessary action with regard to the imprisonment or fine or both shall be taken against them under sections 4 and 6 of the Act. Sources told Dawn that the action had been taken on the recommendation of the vigilant officer of the City District Government, Tariq Zaman.

The CDG team they said monitored the plays during the Eid holidays and had submitted its observation to the home department last week.