Ban on ‘Joyland’: PM orders review

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s adviser Salman Sufi has said that the Prime Minister has ordered a review of the ban on the film ‘Joyland’ nominated for the Oscars by Pakistan.

Salman Sufi tweeted late on Monday night, in which he said that a high-level committee is being set up to review the ban on Joyland.

He further wrote: ‘The committee will examine the merits as well as the complaints to decide on its exhibition in Pakistan.’

The Pakistani film ‘Joyland’ has been nominated for next year’s Academy Awards (Oscars) while this film has also won an award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

This film on the issues of transgenders is produced by Sarmad Sultan Khost.

In Pakistan, the film was given a clearance certificate by the Censor Board in August and the film was scheduled to be released in cinemas on November 18, but later reportedly after pressure from various religious parties, the Ministry of Information and The broadcaster withdrew the censorship certificate granted to the film.

The film’s director Saeem Sadiq termed the ban as ‘unconstitutional and illegal’.

On the other hand, the co-producer and casting director of the film ‘Joyland’, Sana Jafri, in a conversation with Independent Urdu, demanded that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting should reconsider its decision and at least inform them of whatever decision they take.

Sana said that the film is going for Oscars, for which it must be released in Pakistan.

It took six years and hundreds of people to make this film. This film was made in Pakistan and it was made for Pakistanis, so what’s the point if they won’t be able to see it.’

(Editing: Jawaria Hanna)