Violate the NAP, banned documentary on Lal Masjid cleric screened in Karachi

Mohammad Ali Naqvi’s documentary Among the Believers may have been slapped with a ban by the country’s censor board, but behind closed doors the film on Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz was screened privately in Karachi.

All hush-hush, the screening was an invite-only affair with emails sent to guests directing them to use the backdoor entrance.

Last week, the documentary based on Lal Masjid’s controversial chief cleric was barred from being screened at a two-day event organised by the Foundation of Arts, Culture and Education in Islamabad. The documentary allegedly shows “anti-state elements” and violates the Motion Picture Ordinance of 1979.

Talking to The Express Tribune, CBFC Chairman Mobasher Hasan said the films show “anti-state elements” and hence violate the Motion Picture Ordinance of 1979. “They also violate the National Action Plan,” he maintained.

Festival organiser Arieb Azhar confirmed they had received a notification directing them to not screen Among the Believers as well as Besieged in Quetta. “We weren’t given any proper reason, only blanket generalisations that say the movies contain negative elements,” festival director Anum Abbas chimed in.