F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Monday passed Motion Pictures (Film, CDs, Vidios, Stage Dramas and Shows) Bill, 2018 to constitute boards to examine and certify these for public exhibitions and declare area in respect of which each such board would exercise its powers.
The bill was moved by a treasury MPA Arif Khan Ahmadzai in the house with Speaker Asad Qaiser in the chair.
The board would be consists of a chairman and not less than three members to be appointed by government on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed. The chairman and members of the board would hold office during the pleasure of government and receive such salary and allowances, if any, as may be determined by government, from time to time.
The bill stated that no one would be allowed to make or arrange a public or private exhibition of a film, CD, video, stage drama and show etc, by means of cinematograph, cable networks or any electronic media, as the case may be, unless it has been duly certificated for public exhibition by the government.
In case the board directs that any portion of the film, CD, video, stage drama and show etc be exercised, the board would, subsequent to the rejection of appeal, if any, or the expiration of thirty days from the order, if there is no appeal, destroy or cause to be destroyed all prints of sound and picture and original exposed negatives of the excised portions..
Similarly, if, after examining a film, CD, video, stage drama and show etc, or having it examined, the board considers that it is suitable for unrestricted public exhibition or that, though not suitable for such exhibition, it is suitable for restricted public exhibition, it would grant to the person applying for certification of the film, CD, video, stage drama and show, a certificate of the appropriate category and would in all cases cause the film, CD, video, stage drama and show, to be marked in the prescribed manner.
An order refusing to grant a certificate, or an order suspending a certificate, or an order decertifying a certified film, CD, video, stage drama and show, to be marked in the prescribed manner.
Subject to the other provisions under the Act, a certificate granted under the Act, or an order decertifying a certified film, CD, video, stage drama and show would be published in the official Gazette.
The bill stated that all existing recoded films, CDs, videos, stage dramas and shows would be certified by the board within one year after the commencement of the Act and subsequent formation of board. After one year deadline, all certified moves would stand decertified.
A film, CD, video, stage drama and show etc would not be certified for public exhibition, if, in the opinion of the board, the film, CD, stage drama and show or any part thereof is prejudicial to the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality or amounts to the commission of, or incitement to an offence.
For the guidance of the board in the exercise of its powers, the government may issue a Censorship Code and such directions as it may think fit.
The board may, if it has reason to believe that a film, CD, video, stage drama and show, in respect of which a certificate has been granted by the board or is being exhibited in contravention of any of the conditions subject to which it has been certified, by order suspend its exhibition for such period as may be specified in the order,
Magistrate of the 1st Class, in respect of the whole or any part of the district, may, it he is of the opinion that any film, CD, video, stage drama and show, which is being publically exhibited is likely to cause a breach of the peace, by order suspend the exhibition of it for such period not exceeding one month as may be specified in the order.
Similarly, the House passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Employees (Regularization of Services) Bill, 2018 and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
The Speaker adjourned the proceeding till 3:00PM on Tuesday.
