Permission for theatrical activities: LHC seeks record of licences issued since 2006

The Lahore High Court on Thursday sought record of licences issued since 2006 by Punjab Home Department for holding stage dramas and theatrical activities since 2006. The court issued this order in a petition field by owner of Venus Theatre, Sargodha seeking permission for stage dramas and other cultural activities.
The petitioner said that he had been holding entertainment programmes including dramas for the last ten years in his theatre. He said the government had granted him permission for showing stage dramas "Chan Sajna" and "Begum Dhokey Baaz" in 2002-03. The counsel said the petitioner showed the two dramas smoothly and strictly in accordance with terms and conditions by the authorities. And there was no complaint against the petitioner.
The counsel said that the petitioner again applied for permission to show stage dramas but the authorities had not granted the same. A law officer on behalf of the Punjab government informed the court that fresh permissions were not being granted since 2006.
At this petitioner's counsel pointed out that the home department granted permission for theatrical activities in Naghma theatre Sargodha from a period of one year from January 20, 2008 to January 20, 2009, but the petitioner was not being granted the same and being discriminated. The court after hearing both sides directed the home department to produce record of permissions granted in this regard since 2006.