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Court dismisses petition against screening of Meray Pass Tum Ho finale

Court dismisses petition against screening of Meray Pass Tum Ho finale

A petition had been filed in a Lahore civil court to halt the release of Meray Pass Tum Ho's final episode.
25 Jan, 2020

A civil court on Friday refused to stay the exhibition of the last episode of drama serial Meray Pass Tum Ho.

The petitioner, Maham Jamshed, had filed a petition through her counsel Majid Chaudhry stating that women as a whole had been ridiculed and shown as a disrespected segment of society in the drama. The counsel argued before the court that the Constitution did not allow character assassination of any segment of society.

He pointed out that the last episode of the drama will be shown in cinemas across the country on Jan 25 instead of TV screens. He asked the court to order the respondents to stop the exhibition of the drama’s last episode in cinemas or on television screens for being contrary to the basic provisions of the Constitution.

During Friday’s hearing, advocates Mian Irfan Akram and Waqas Ahmad Aziz appeared on behalf of the drama’s production team and the television channel. They argued that the drama was made to discourage “honour” killings and for the reformation of society, in fact.

The counsel also questioned the jurisdiction of a civil court to take a petition filed as public interest litigation. They said that the petitioner failed to avail the first remedy available in the law.

In her decision, Civil Judge Naila Ayub observed that all episodes of the drama had been broadcast on television and now its last episode was going to be aired in cinemas on Jan 25 (today) and the censor board had also issued a clearance certificate to it.

Therefore, she noted, prima facie no good case of interim injunction was made out at this stage since there was no element, which could show that the drama was inappropriate for society.

The judge dismissed the application and sought arguments from both sides on the main petition by Feb 17. A counsel also filed power of attorney on behalf of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority.

Originally published in Dawn, January 25th, 2020

Comments

Shahkot Jan 25, 2020 12:14pm
sensible
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Daskalos Jan 25, 2020 12:46pm
What a storm in a tea cup!
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M. Saeed Jan 25, 2020 03:00pm
We have uncountable cases in the country where sentiments of the people are being hurt in almost every walk of life. They are real and there in the news every day. Then why challenge to stop the last episode of a mere fictional drama, which might have a redress in the last episode not yet seen by the the people.
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Khaled Jan 25, 2020 05:13pm
Not good, so the media tycoons have won once again.
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Malik Jan 25, 2020 06:32pm
Too much going on in Pakistan drama and film industry. No freedom at all.
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Erum Jan 25, 2020 07:45pm
Well, our audience want to enjoy seeing a woman”punished” . It is not as much fun to watch it at home’ Collective bashing of a woman is much more enjoyable. Just like people enjoy public lynching
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Fastrack Jan 25, 2020 09:18pm
Please keep bashing menfolk.
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Ehsan Jan 25, 2020 09:35pm
The courts should have not even take such cases, it’s a waste of time and money
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Ashok De Jan 25, 2020 11:58pm
Excellent decision Hon. Justice. Let people express their opinions, it’s a Govt. of the people, by the people and for the people.
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npath Jan 26, 2020 03:15am
writer is a cheap shot who cannot see beyond TRPs and the money he is raking. In a male dominated society, he has played to the male audience to make them feel good, justifying not only the actions of flirt playboys but also of those who kick women into dust for wrong doings.
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Tahera Jan 26, 2020 04:17am
And how come this wasn't forwarded to the Council of Islamic Ideology for scrutiny???
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mukesh Jan 27, 2020 11:37am
very bad end . Confused from first episode to last. Don't know what they want to show
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