Lahore, Nov 15: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought comments from the Film Censor Board and the Pakistan Culture Ministry on a petition that has challenged the exhibition of Indian films in Pakistan.

Justice Tariq Shamim on Friday directed a Deputy Attorney General to appear before the court on November 17 after seeking instructions from the quarters concerned, the Daily Times reported.

The petitioner, Mahfooz Chaudhry, submitted that his father, Chaudhry Eid Muhammad, had been importing Indian films before the ban on their exhibition in Pakistan.

He said that his father had imported Jhansi Ki Rani, Awara, Barsat, and Madari from India and exhibited them in Pakistan, but the government had banned the showings of Indian film on December 7, 1965.

Mahfooz said that recently, movies which were exhibited in Pakistan included Goal, Race, Rahguzar, Taray Zameen Par, Bhagam Bhag, Welcome, Bhootnath, Jannat, Kismat connection, Honey and Money, Love Story 2050, Kidnap and Drona.

He said these movies were produced and directed in India, and were pictured in India, but the Censor Board and the Cultural Ministry allowed their exhibition in Pakistan in violation of rules.

Mahfooz said that according to the Film Censor Rules 1980, no foreign movie could be exhibited in Pakistan.

He prayed that exhibition of Indian films be declared unlawful, illegal and against the Film Rules, 1980.

Mahfooz further prayed that exhibition of Indian movies should be disallowed until a decision on this petition. (ANI)