Court directs Sindh censor board to rehear filmmakers and issue fresh decision within two weeks

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday directed the Sindh Board of Film Censors to rehear all concerned parties and decide within two weeks whether to permit the screening of Ghost Schools across the province.

The court issued the direction while hearing a petition filed by the film’s makers challenging the provincial censor board’s refusal to approve its exhibition in Sindh.

During proceedings, petitioners’ counsel Muez Baig Advocate informed the court that both the federal censor board and Punjab censor authorities had already cleared the film for screening. However, the Sindh board withheld permission.

Filmmakers Question Disparity in Screening Rules

Baig argued that the decision had created an unusual situation in Karachi. According to him, cinemas in cantonment areas could reportedly screen the film, while venues operating under the Sindh government’s jurisdiction could not.

Consequently, the court questioned the Sindh censor board secretary about the grounds for refusing certification.

Justice Adnan-ul-Kareem Memon directed officials to provide complete information, stressing that authorities could not withhold relevant facts from the court.

However, the board secretary maintained that the censor board had collectively made the decision and requested additional time to submit a detailed response.

Petitioners Challenge Legal Basis for Refusal

Meanwhile, Baig argued that the Sindh Motion Pictures Act, 2011, allows authorities to refuse certification only on specified legal grounds.

He maintained that Ghost Schools, which highlights problems surrounding non-functional educational institutions, contained nothing threatening religion, national security, international relations or public morality.

Furthermore, the counsel said the film had earned international recognition, including a Best Direction award at the UK Asian Film Festival.

He also argued that authorities neither issued the filmmakers a show-cause notice nor provided them an opportunity to defend their position before refusing permission.

After hearing the arguments, the SHC ordered the censor board to rehear the parties, reconsider the review application and issue a fresh decision within two weeks.