Case Update Status

Senate HR committee allowed the screening of film Zindagi Tamasha post covid.

Summary of Case

"On 23 Jan, 2020 The Punjab government has stopped the release of Sarmad Khoosat’s upcoming film Zindagi Tamasha and formed a committee to review the movie. The film, written by Nirmal Bano, a fresh graduate from NCA, was set to release on January 24, 2020. Directed and co-produced by Sarmad Khoosat along with his sister Kanwal Khoosat, Zindagi Tamasha is a bilingual movie which has been shot in Lahore.

On January 16, 2020 members of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan raised objections to the film’s release. The following day, the TLP announced a countrywide strike if the film was released.

It features model-turned actress Eman Suleman, Samiya Mumtaz, Arif Hasan and Ali Qureshi in lead roles. Forming the committee, the Punjab government has stopped the release of Zindagi Tamasha and given a deadline of February 3, 2020 to review it. The committee will review reservations from different segments of the society regarding the film.

On 21st Jan, 2021 The Sindh Board of Films and Censor banned Zindagi Tamasha three days before its release. A notification issued by the board said although it had previously examined and cleared Sarmad Khoosat's directorial film, it has now been informed that it may create unrest within a segment of the society.

""If the film is released for public exhibition, it may create unrest within the religious segment of the society and may be detrimental to peace. Therefore, in order to avoid such a situation, it is advised not to release the film till further decision by the Sindh Board of Films Censor,"" said the notification.

The decision to ban the film follows a similar move by censor authorities in Punjab. Meanwhile, the Central Film Censor Board has decided to approach the Council of Islamic Ideology for critically reviewing feature film Zindagi Tamasha, said Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan in a tweet on Tuesday. She said the film producer has also been directed to postpone the release of his film for the time being.

On July 14th, 2020 The Senate Committee for Human Rights has approved the release of Sarmad Khoosat’s film Zindagi Tamasha, PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar announced. Khokhar tweeted that the panel had “found nothing wrong” with the film.

“Senate HR committee has unanimously agreed with the censor board’s decision to allow the screening of film Zindagi Tamasha,” his tweet read. “We’ve found nothing wrong with it. Censor board has our go-ahead to release post-Covid. Detail reasoning to follow later.”

After a green signal for screening in Pakistan. The film was set to release in local cinemas in March 2022.

In March 2022 Filmmaker Sarmad Khoosat has confirmed that the release of his film Zindagi Tamasha has been ""postponed"".

Sarmad told Images that the film has been ""postponed"" and will ""come out soon"". The filmmaker did not share why Zindagi Tamasha's release has been delayed. "

Category of Incident

Censorship

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Group: 08031-Acts against freedom of expression

ICCS Class: "N/A"

ICCS Crime: "Acts against freedom of expression"

Reported By

The News

Date of incident

23

Month

January

Year

2020

Name of affected person

Sarmad Khoosat

Other affected persons

No other person affected

Name of affected organization

Khoosat Films

Other affected organizations

No other organization affected

Action by

The Punjab Government

City

Nationwide

Province

Nationwide

Designation

N/A

Professional category

Production house

Age of victim

N/A

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: N/A

Date of compensation announcement by government: N/A

Date of compensation paid by government: N/A

Amount of compensation announced by others: N/A

Date of compensation announced by others: N/A

Date compensation paid by others: N/A

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: N/A

Court where case was presented: Lahore Additional Sessions Judge's Court

Name of prosecuting lawyer: N/A

Date of first court hearing: 16/07/2020

Date of last court hearing: 08/08/2020

Status of court case: N/A

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

N/A

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

N/A

Employer organization

N/A

Press Club Status

Press club 1: N/A

Press club 2:

Press club 3: