Export of movie ‘Maalik’ banned

ISLAMABAD: The government on Tuesday slapped ban on export of movie ‘Maalik’ with immediate effect and directed the FBR to ensure strict compliance of these directives.

“Yes, we have imposed ban on export of this movie after receiving formal request from Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,” Spokesman for Ministry of Commerce and senior official Ashraf Khan confirmed to The News here on Tuesday night.

However, the sources said that Ministry of Information took stance that the politicians were allegedly maligned in this movie and it was planned to be launched outside the country so there was a need to slap ban on its export. Keeping in view these recommendations, the Ministry of Commerce slapped ban on its exports.

Director of the movie Aasher Azeem was planning to launch this movie outside Pakistan by end of the ongoing month. Earlier, the ministry had issued notification for screening of movie inside Pakistan. The notification issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had declared the film ‘uncertified’ according to Section 9 of the Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979.

The information ministry reserved the right to ban any film at any time. ‘Maalik’ was banned because it showed a former chief minister as a man of corruption and opulence. It was first time that the movie was banned in the country and now its export was also banned with immediate effect.