Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday adjourned to January 28 the proceeding of case of exhibition of Indian movies in Pakistan as counsel of a cinema owner sought time to file comments on his application to become party in the case.
Safdar Khan, owner of Shabistan Cinema, through his counsel Hasnain Naveed Raja filed the application to become party in five identical petitions challenging the exhibition of Indian movies in Pakistan in the petitions filed by Chaudhry Mahfoooz, Aslam Dar Zaraq Bari and others.
The court earlier issued notices to Chairman Pakistan Central Board of Film Censors (PCBFC) and Deputy Attorney General in the petitions. Chaudhry Mahfooz requested the court to declare the exhibition of Indian films in Pakistan by PCBFC as illegal and without any legal jurisdiction.
They said the Board was issuing the Censor Certificates by approving Indian films fit for exhibition in negation to section 10 of Censorship of Film Rules 1980. The act of the Board was also violating the Import Policy Order 2007-08 and article 5 of the constitution. Applicants prayed to the court to cancel the Censor Certificates issued by the Board and restrained it from issuing further certificates.
They prayed that exhibition of Indian Films in Pakistan be declared unlawful, illegal and against the Film Rules 1980. And till the decision of petitions, no Indian movie to be allowed to be exhibited, petitioners also prayed.