Raees will not release in Pakistan, says the censor board

Rumours of Mahira-SRK starrer Raees releasing in Pakistan were ripe this past week, however, as per latest reports, the film will not be releasing here.

Sources within the censor board have said that Mahira Khan's Bollywood debut will not be released in Pakistan.

Sources from the censor board told Images the reason behind it is that "the content undermines Islam, and a specific religious sect, [while also] portraying Muslims as criminals, wanted persons and terrorists."

The decision was made Monday afternoon by the censor board.

Earlier the film was in turbulent waters owing to the sour relations between Pakistan and India. Pakistani artists were banned across the border following the Uri attack in Kashmir. Consequently, Mahira Khan was not able to promote her film Raees in India.

The rift also forced Shah Rukh Khan to commit to Indian right wing political party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) that he will not to work with Pakistani artists in the future.

The Bollywood actor had met with the MNS supremo Raj Thackeray late last year and according to Indian Express the meeting was to confirm that "Mahira Khan is not coming to India for any kind of film promotion and he will also not cast any Pakistani artistes in future.”