The Punjab government on Thursday banned Joyland.
The move comes hours after the federal government cleared the critically-acclaimed film for release following a nationwide outcry. In a letter, a copy of which is available with The Friday Times and Naya Daur, the government directed Sarmad Khoosat to refrain from exhibiting the film in the province till further orders.
The Information and Culture Department, the letter said, had decided to "re-call" the film citing "persistent complaints" from "various quarters".
The federal government had earlier green-lighted the film for release following a nationwide outcry. Prime Minister’s Strategic Reforms head Salman Sufi had confirmed the development on Wednesday. "The film #Joyland has been cleared for release by the Censor board review committee formed at the direction of PM @CMShehbaz Freedom of speech is fundamental right & should be nourished within ambits of the law. #JoylandBan," he had said in his tweet.
The move comes hours after the federal government cleared the critically-acclaimed film for release following a nationwide outcry. In a letter, a copy of which is available with The Friday Times and Naya Daur, the government directed Sarmad Khoosat to refrain from exhibiting the film in the province till further orders.
The Information and Culture Department, the letter said, had decided to "re-call" the film citing "persistent complaints" from "various quarters".
The federal government had earlier green-lighted the film for release following a nationwide outcry. Prime Minister’s Strategic Reforms head Salman Sufi had confirmed the development on Wednesday. "The film #Joyland has been cleared for release by the Censor board review committee formed at the direction of PM @CMShehbaz Freedom of speech is fundamental right & should be nourished within ambits of the law. #JoylandBan," he had said in his tweet.
The film #Joyland has been cleared for release by the Censor board review committee formed at the direction of PM @CMShehbaz
Freedom of speech is fundamental right & should be nourished within ambits of the law. #JoylandBan https://t.co/vQodv7fjOk
— Salman Sufi (Get New Covid Booster Today) (@SalmanSufi7) November 16, 2022