A day after all the ruckus online about Pakistani web-series ‘Churails‘ being allegedly banned by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), it seems the series is available for viewing again.
2 days ago, the Pakistani web series was seemingly pulled off from Indian digital streaming platform Zee5, but only for Pakistani audiences. Many people assumed the worst.
Adding to the confusion, neither PEMRA, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), or Zee5 clarified anything after the show was banned. But in the days ahead, a clear picture has started to emerge of what really went down which led the show to be banned and then reinstated.
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The tale of a ban
As Churails went off for Pakistani subscribers of Zee5, many people asked. Did PEMRA or PTA ban it?
Even the director Asim Abbasi had shared a heartfelt note about the death of art in Pakistan.
Artistic freedom squashed because it is wrongly perceived by some as a moral threat. Predictable, and yet, still disappointing. For this is not just my loss. This is a loss for women and marginalised communities that this show meant to re-represent. (2)
— Asim Abbasi (@IllicitusProduc) October 7, 2020
Later he asserted that PTA had reportedly reached out to Zee5 to have the web series taken down.
"The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority said it contacted the platform after receiving complaints about the show." "We cannot block (content) on our own, but we can write to the platform, which we have done.” – Ub ghaur karein. #Churailshttps://t.co/LWBt68bVq1 https://t.co/m95iAtFReV
— Asim Abbasi (@IllicitusProduc) October 8, 2020
However, internationally affiliated journalist Hasan Kazmi revealed that PTA did no such thing. Zee5 took down Churails for Pakistani users after public outrage over a viral video clip from the web series.
So Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has confirmed that it has not blocked #Churails
Apparently #ZEE5 has taken it down due to public outrage about its one scene on #Twitter@ZEE5Global@PTAofficialpk
— Hasan Kazmi (@hasankazmi_) October 8, 2020
Meanwhile cultural critic Mahwish Ejaz shared Zee5’s statement on the matter. Zee5 said that they were just complying with the directives they had received. Zee’s statement does not name who was behind the complaints.
In fact, it still wouldn’t make sense as to why an independent Indian content platform would comply with directives from a Pakistani governmental body, especially given the chilly ties between the two neighboring countries right now.
The show was taken off the platform in Pakistan purely in compliance with a directive that we received. We have now addressed the matter and reinstated the show on our platform. +
— Mahwash Ajaz 🇵🇰 (@mahwashajaz_) October 9, 2020
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Interestingly Zee5’s statement mentions another Pakistani web series they are set to release soon, Ek Jhooti Love Story. The web series is created by Mehreen Jabbar and stars Bilal Abbas Khan and Madiha Imam.
We have yesterday also launched the trailer of our next Zindagi Original ‘Ek Jhoothi Love Story’, which we hope will go on to be hugely loved by our audiences.”@PTAofficialpk please respond. What were the directives received by @ZEE5Global for #Churails?
— Mahwash Ajaz 🇵🇰 (@mahwashajaz_) October 9, 2020
So there you have it. PTA reportedly requested that they had forwarded their concerns about Churails to Zee5. However, after a day of being blacked out in Pakistan, it is now back up for local viewers. Interestingly, no cuts or edits were made to the web series after it was restored.
