Khudayar Mohla –
Islamabad High Court on Monday sought reply from federal government over failure of people sitting at helm of affairs in the Central Board of Film Censors to fill vacant slots of chairman and secretary of the Board since long.
Filing a plea before Islamabad High Court through his counsel Umer Gillani, the petitioner Malik Ahmed Nawaz made Federation of Pakistan through Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting through its Secretary, Central Board of Film Censors through its Acting Chairman and Secretary, Establishment Division Islamabad as respondents.
Appearing before a single-member bench of the IHC Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb in the matter, advocate Gillani contended that federal government is running affairs of the Board on ad-hoc basis.
Gillani alleged that government failed to implement provisions of Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979 in true letter and spirit as it has neglected to envisage creation of an independent, professional regulatory body for film censorship in the country.
Pointing out series of malpractices which showed disregard for the law, Umer Gillani argued that the Board has been functioning without a secretary for many years, whereas no vice chairman has been appointed since 2013. Besides, post of chairman is held by a person who happens to be a serving government officer, also working as Director to information minister.
Gillani urged the court to issue directives to government and other respondents to fill the slots of chairman, vice-chairmen and secretary of the Board within a reasonable time in accordance with law.
After hearing arguments of the counsel, the IHC issued notices to respondents of the case while granting them a month in the matter.
