Pakistani govt bans Indian Punjabi films' screening

India's refusal to visit Pakistan to play ICC Champions Trophy early next year has prompted the Pakistani government to slap a ban on the screening of Indian Punjabi films in the country, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

As per details, Indian Punjabi films were released under the censorship law.

Earlier, in a surprising turn of events, the Central Board of Film Censors in Pakistan imposed a ban on the theatrical release of Imran Abbas’ Punjabi Indian film 'Jee Ve Sohneya Jee', sending shockwaves through the entertainment industry.

The film is deemed anti-Pakistan and Islam, to be screened in Punjab.

The Indian Punjabi film ‘Jee Ve Sohneya Jee‘ was released worldwide on February 16, including in Pakistan. Pakistani actor Imran Abbas played the lead role of Ali Parveez, a Muslim character from Faridkot, Punjab. The film’s plot follows Ali, a terrorist wanted by British police, who falls in love with Meher, a woman from Indian Punjab, and hides his identity as a Muslim and Pakistani from her.

The film attempts to highlight the impact of the partition of India and Pakistan on Punjabis and advocates for the ending of border allocation between the two countries, at least for Punjab’s sake. Some dialogues and scenes in the film have been deemed objectionable, leading to a ban on its screening in Pakistan and voluntary refusal by many cinema houses in Punjab to show the film.

Reporter: Zain Madni