Less than a day after the federal government agreed to lift the ban on Saim Sadiq’s Joyland, the Punjabi government sent a notice to the movie’s producer informing them that they cannot screen the movie within Punjab province’s borders.
The Punjab Information and Culture Department sent a notice dated November 17 to Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, the director of Joyland, informing him that the government has chosen to re-call Joyland “in the wake of persistent complaints received from various quarters” in accordance with Section-9, 1 and 2(a) and (b) of the Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979 and the rules made thereunder.
Additionally, it instructs Khoosat that the Joyland crew is not permitted to screen their movie within the boundaries of the Punjab province until further notice from the Punjab government.According to Sections 9 I and II (a) and (b), the government is permitted to request the record of any procedures involving any movies that are pending before the board or have already been decided upon at any time.
Without giving notice to the person who requested 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 whatever order it deems appropriate in relation to the matter after conducting any investigation it deems necessary.
The government may order that a movie or group of movies for which a certificate has been issued under the Motion Pictures Ordinance or the Censorship of Films Act, 1963, (XVIII of 1963), be regarded as uncertified movies, according to the second section.
Additionally, the clause specifies that the government may not issue such an order unless it is confident that doing so is required “in the sake of the grandeur of Islam or the integrity, security, or defence of Pakistan.”
