Lahore High Court asks Pak ministry to reply on petition seeking ban on Indian films

LAHORE - The Lahore High Court (LHC) has once again asked for a reply from the Ministry of Sports and Culture on a petition seeking a ban on the screening of Indian films in Pakistan.

LHC Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif has directed the ministry to submit its reply by March 3.

Earlier, the court had directed the ministry to file its reply by February 9, but it failed to do so.

It may be noted that one Ishtiaq Ahmed Chaudhry, had filed a petition in the LHC, saying that the whole of Pakistan has been ‘humiliated’ by the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) decision not to include any Pakistani cricketers in the T20 league’s next edition.

Chaudhry, in his petition, pleaded that the government should ban Indian films unless the Indian government does not apologise for the disregard shown to the Pakistani players.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) counsels informed the court that the Indian government and its cricket board (BCCI) had fully cooperated with the Pakistani players as the players were granted visas and security clearance certificates accordingly.

The counsel argued that the Indian Premier League (IPL) was a private organisation and the Indian government had no involvement in its affairs. (ANI)