The Lahore High Court has ordered the Punjab Information and Culture Secretary to take a decision on the pending application regarding a ban on the screening of movie Joyland in cinemas within 15 days, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Justice Muzamil Akhtar Shabbir on Tuesday heard the petition of film producers Sana Jafri and Qasim Abbas, while advocate Osama Khawar Ghumman appeared before the court on the behalf of the petitioners. 

Similarly, Acting Attorney General Haroon Mir appeared on behalf of the federal government. 

The federal government, PEMRA, Central Film Censor Board and others have been made parties in the petition. 

The petitioners argued that a high-level committee in Islamabad had approved the release of the film, and that Punjab government okayed the release of the film in the province but the decision was later reversed.

The petitioners requested to Provincial Secretary Information and Culture to withdraw the notification. 

The petitioners also made a stance that the hearing is still pending despite filing of the petition.

The petitioner also requested the court to declare the move to ban the screening of the film in Punjab null and void and order the Provincial Secretary Information and Culture to take a decision as early as possible.

Reporter: Malik Ashraf