Saadat Hasan Manto’s Writings
A notification circulating widely on social media claims that the federal government of Pakistan has imposed a ban on the publication, distribution, and promotion of the literary works of renowned writer Saadat Hasan Manto.
According to the document, which is allegedly issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Manto’s writings have been deemed “obscene” and “contrary to the moral, cultural, and religious values” of Pakistani society. The notification further instructs all educational institutions in the country to remove Manto’s works from their syllabi.
The document, which surfaced on WhatsApp groups and has also been shared across X (formerly Twitter), appears to bear the official seal and signature of the secretary of the information ministry. It claims the action was taken under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act, suggesting that Manto’s content violates national standards of decency and public morality.
However, a thorough fact-check has confirmed that the notification is fake, and no such ban has been imposed by the federal government.
Ambreen Jan, the Federal Secretary for Information and Broadcasting, told Geo Fact Check that the ministry has not issued any such notification, categorically dismissing the claim as fabricated. She clarified that the ministry has no intention of censoring Manto’s writings, which are considered an integral part of Pakistan’s literary heritage.
Similarly, Tariq Iqbal, spokesperson for the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad, confirmed that the Commission has not received any directive instructing the removal of Manto’s work from academic curricula.
Khurram Shahzad, Public Relations Officer at Punjab University, Lahore, also stated that the university has received no instructions from the ministry in this regard.
Ali Kamran, Managing Director of Sang-e-Meel Publications, a major publisher of Manto’s books in Lahore, added that they have not received any communication from the government concerning a ban or restriction on Manto’s work.
To independently verify the authenticity of the document, Geo Fact Check utilized Attestiv, a U.S.-based digital forensics platform powered by artificial intelligence.
The tool assigned the document a Tamper Score of 91, indicating a high likelihood of forgery. The analysis revealed that the document had been manipulated and did not originate from an official source.
Verdict: The claim that the federal government has banned the publication, distribution, and promotion of Saadat Hasan Manto’s writings is entirely false.
No such notification has been issued, and Manto’s literary contributions remain a vital part of Pakistan’s cultural and academic landscape.
