Petition filed in Lahore HC seeking complete ban on Indian films in Pakistan

Indians have reacted strongly to the horrific terror attack in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir which killed 40 CRPF personnel. Several filmmakers have come forward to and announced that they would not be releasing their films in Pakistan at such a time. Songs of Pakistani singers Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan have been delisted by T-Series and All Indian Cine Workers Association has even banned Pakistani artistes from working in Bollywood. 

Now, as a reaction to the ban- a petition in Lahore has sought a complete ban on trade and exhibition of Indian films in Pakistan. 

Sheikh Latif, a Pakistani citizen, moved the Lahore High Court on Thursday seeking a complete ban on trade and exhibition of Indian films in Pakistan.
He argued the import policy order 2016 announced by Pakistan had banned the import of all Indian films and other content.

However, on January 31, 2017, the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif "through a notification of the Ministry of Information announced that display of all international movies, including Indian films, in Pakistan will continue under the garb of revival of Pakistani film and cinema industry", the petitioner said. 

Latif argued that the notification was "unlawful" as it was not approved by the federal cabinet, which was mandatory under a Supreme Court judgment.

Citing the Supreme Court's recent order to the federal government to take strict action against airing of Indian content on television channels, the petitioner requested the court to set aside the "impugned notification" of January 2017 for being unlawful and direct the administration to impose a complete ban on exhibition of Indian films and other content.