MUMBAI MIRROR (February 23, 2019)

A petition has been filed with the Lahore High Court seeking a complete ban on trade, exhibition and selling of Indian films in Pakistan. This is in retaliation to Bollywood’s call for a ban on Pakistani artistes in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF troopers.

Sheikh Muhammad Latif who filed the petition, pleaded through his counsel that the Import Policy Order 2016 announced by the federal government banning import of Indian films and content be imposed again. It wasn’t effective the first time because then Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, through a notification of the Ministry of Information on January 31, 2017, had announced the screening of international films, including those from India continue under the garb of revival of Pakistani films and industry.

On February 17, FWICE and 24 crafts of the Indian film and television industry had issued an inviolable diktat, warning filmmakers against working with actors and singers from across the border. Producers of films like Total Dhamaal, Luka Chuppi, Arjun Patiala and Made In China have announced that they won’t release their films in Pakistan.