Chairman of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokar took to Twitter to express his surprise that Sarmad Khoosat's film Zindagi Tamasha remains banned.
He also shared his written directions to the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Censors. He had instructed the Board to delay screening of the film for the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) until the Senate Human Rights Committee deems it necessary.
On January 28, the CII had set up a four-member committee that would review the film and submit a report to CII Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz.
The release of the film was suspended by the government after facing pressure from Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and other ultra-conservative religious forces in the country. Director Sarmad Khoosat has expressed disappointment over the obstacles to the film as well as the threats to him from religious extremists.
HR comte took notice of banning of movie zindagi tamasha. Surprised to find that it was cleared twice but still banned! We directed that screening for CII should b held in abeyance till Commitee views&decides whether there’s something objectionable in it or not. pic.twitter.com/WEklGLswjK
— Mustafa Nawaz Khokar (@Mustafa_PPP) March 11, 2020