LAHORE - A writ petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court challenging import of Indian films and their exhibition in local cinemas, seeking directions for the authorities concerned to play their due role to stop them.
Muhammad Younas, a local resident, has filed the petition submitting that Indian films are being exhibited in local cinemas which have bad impact over the new generation and are spoiling the culture of the land.
The petitioner says under laws, the exhibition of Indian films is banned but despite that these are being shown on local cinemas while their CDs are also available in markets.
The CDs which are smuggled in large quantity into the country is also the failure of the government authorities, submits Younas. He says every new film which is produced in India is seen available in local markets on the next day. It seems that Pakistan is the main market of Indian films, says the petitioner.
He contends that under section 5 of import policy of Federal Board of Revenue, Indian films cannot even be imported into the country but, unfortunately, Indian films are continuously being imported and smuggled into the country.
Younas prays the court to direct the federal government and Board of Revenue to stop import of Indian films and their exhibition in local cinemas and to stop smuggling of films for larger national interest.
He requests the court to punish strictly to those who are involved in smuggling of Indian films and their CDs in Pakistan, so that no one could dare to smuggle such movies and daramas in the country for larger interest of the nation.
After hearing initial arguments of the petitioner, Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh of the Lahore High Court issued notices to federal government and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) with directions to submit reply within 15 days.
21st Amendment challenged
Watan Party on Wednesday filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) challenging newly approved 21st amendment in the constitution which gave legal cover to military courts for trying terrorists’ cases.
The party filed the petition through Barrister Zafarullah Khan in SC Lahore registry and submitted that the amendment had changed the basic structure of the Constitution. He said that the SC had already set aside military courts in 1998, 99 and 2012.
The petitioner stated that those who had cast votes for amendments in Military Act, 1952, Navy Act, 1954 and Pakistan Air force Act, 1961 had also committed contempt of court.  The counsel also apprehended that the military courts could be used against those who always supported supremacy of law and ran movements for strengthening democracy in the country.
The counsel requested the apex court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against members of Punjab Assembly and senators who cast votes for passing the 21st amendment. He further requested the court to set aside newly amendment in larger interest of nation.