The Government of Punjab has banned Saim Sadiq’s controversial and internationally-acclaimed film, Joyland, from being screened in local cinemas a day before its slated release on 18 November.
The provincial Information and Culture department issued a notification to the film’s producer Sarmad Khoosat today in this regard. The departments’s Section Officer, Khizar Zahoor, wrote a letter to the producer saying,
I am directed to inform you that the Government of the Punjab in exercise of the powers conferred under Section-9 (1&2) Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979 and rules made thereunder has decided to re-call your titled film in the wake of persistent complaints received from different quarters.
You [Sarmad Khoosat] are, therefore, directed not to exhibit in jurisdiction of Punjab province till further orders of the Government.
The news comes as a shock since the award-winning film was cleared for a nationwide release in cinemas last night. The film got the full approval of the Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) and was allowed to be screened with a few cuts.
Prior to this, the Government of Pakistan had barred the nationwide release of Joyland on 11 November. As per the official notice from the federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, it had received written complaints that the movie contains “highly objectional material” that is against the “social values and moral standards of our society”.
Note that the CBFC had granted a certificate for the release of the movie in August.
#Bannedjoylandmovie….. Sham on sensor board…🖐️🖐️🖐️