LAHORE: Announcing a reserved verdict, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday annulled a federal government ban on the screening of film Maalik.

Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza announced the verdict that he reserved on June 2 on two identical petitions filed by Punjab Assembly opposition leader Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and rights activist Abdullah Malik.

Justice Mirza declared the impugned notification of the federal government illegal, void and unconstitutional. Advocates Azhar Siddique and Sheraz Zaka represented the petitioners.

The lawyers had argued that the ban could not be imposed by the centre as censorship was delegated to provinces after the 18th Amendment. They also termed the ban a violation of fundamental rights of citizens keeping in view Article 19-A of the Constitution and democratic norms.

The counsel further said the ban had badly tarnished the future prospects of growth of the media industry. The Sindh High Court in a recent order had already set aside the ban on the exhibition of Maalik.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2016