Pakistan court dismisses petition for ban on Indian films

LAHORE: A Pakistani court today dismissed a petition seeking a permanent ban on release of Indian films in the country, days after the same court banned the screening of " Phantom" on a petition by JuD chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

Dismissing the petition filed by comedian Iftikhar Ahmad Thakur, Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Ejazul Hasan asked the petitioner to take up the matter with the ministry of culture as it is the relevant forum.

Petitioner's counsel Ishtiaq Ahmad Chaudhry argued in the court that on August 28, India committed the "bloodiest violation" of ceasefire that left eight Pakistanis dead and 47 others injured.

"It is quite sad that on one hand the nation is receiving dead bodies and on the other, the Pakistani authorities are allowing promotion of Indian culture and movies," he argued.

He further said the exhibition/promotion of Indian films in Pakistan is in conflict with several articles of the Constitution. Therefore, the court should put a permanent ban on the release of Indian movies in Pakistan.

On August 20, the LHC had banned the release of Bollywood movie "Phantom" in the country on the petition of Jamaat-ud- Dawah chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Saeed that the film set on post-26/11 attacks is against him and his outfit.