
Plea against Indian films' screening slammed in Pak
A Pakistani court has dismissed a petition calling for ban on screening of Indian movies as Bollywood film Taj Mahal was released in theatres across the country breaking a four-decade old freeze.
Lahore High Court judge Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed dismissed the petition by Movie Artists Association of Pakistan (MAAP) President and senior Pakistani actor Yousaf Khan, who had argued that screening of Indian films violated the law enforced in 1965.
He had also said Pakistani culture was different from the culture of India and that screening Indian movies would be "harmful for local culture and traditions."
Dismissing the MAAP plea, the court asked if there was any movie representing Pakistani culture and "whether the exhibition of Indian movies before 1965 had effected or damaged our ideology."
If Pakistan's ideology and culture were not affected by the exhibition of films from Hollywood and other countries, how would the Indian films cause any danger to the ideology and culture, the court asked.
It also held that government's decision to allow exhibition of Indian movies did not violate any legal jurisdiction.
"When all Indian movies were available in the country on DVDs and CDs, then why they should not be exhibited in cinemas?", the judge asked.
The judgement came even as stars Bolloywood and Lollywood stars converged in Lahore on Wednesday at the premiere of 'Taj Mahal' starring Sonia Jehan, the grand daughter of Pakistan's legendry singer Noorjahan.
Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni joined Indian stars like Kabir Bedi, Fardeen Khan, Manisha Koirala, Shatrughan Sinha and filmmaker Mahesh Bhutt as also Lollywood actors Reema and Meera.

'Honour to meet you': Adar Poonawalla briefs Amit Shah on vaccine capacity

Former CECs say 8 phases of polling in WB must be due to law and order situation

Odisha orders 7-day home isolation for people coming from 11 states, Chandigarh
- The 11 states are Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Punjab, Delhi, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The union territory is Chandigarh.

Gadkari urges MSMEs to avail concessional finance and install rooftop solar

C'garh govt will bear cost of Covid-19 vaccination, says chief minister

PM Modi to inaugurate 1st digital toy fair on February 27: All you need to know

Workers block NH-16, call for bandh to protest privatisation of Vizag Steel
- Ignoring the continuous protests by the workers of the plant, the Centre has begun the exercise of disinvestment in the steel plant.

Health ministry says over 1.37 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses administered

In past 3 months, Feb registers highest number of travellers in India: Report
- According to the report, bookings surged in Goa for both February 15 and February 22 by over 20%.

'Together in fight against pandemic': PM Modi thanks WHO chief on Covax delivery

New rules for social media, OTT require right implementation: Nasscom

News updates from HT: Maharashtra records 8000 new cases of Covid-19
- Here are today’s top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Congress prepared for upcoming state elections, says KC Venugopal

India extends ban on international flights till March 31
