Punjab govt bans Joyland

The government of Punjab has banned the screening of Saim Siddiq’s Joyland movie, less than 24 hours after the federal government decided to lift the ban, ARY News reported.

The notice sent by Punjab Information and Culture Department to Sarmad Sultan Khoosat on November 17 read that the Joyland team cannot exhibit their film in the jurisdiction of Punjab province till further notice by the Government of Punjab.

The notice read that the law suggests that the government may at any stage call for the record of any proceedings about any film that may be pending before or has been decided by the board. After a such inquiry into the matter as considered necessary and without notice to the person who has applied for certification of the film, or to whom a certificate in respect of the film has been granted to the distributor or exhibitor of such film, make such order in relation thereto as it thinks fit.

The second part says that the government can direct that a film or class of films in respect of which a certificate has been granted under the Motion Pictures Ordinance or the Censorship of Films Act, 1963, (XVIII of 1963), shall be deemed to be an uncertified film.

Also Read: ‘Joyland’ gets Censor nod for screening in Pakistan

The section also states that no such order can be made by the government unless it is satisfied that it is necessary to do so “in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan”.