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Tag: prohibits

  • Lahore HC prohibits Imran Khan’s party from holding rally at Minar-e-Pakistan

    Lahore HC prohibits Imran Khan’s party from holding rally at Minar-e-Pakistan

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    Lahore; Observing that the recent pitched battles between the security personnel and defiant supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan in Lahore have “tarnished the image of Pakistan across the world”, a top court on Thursday prohibited the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party from holding a rally at the historic Minar-e-Pakistan here.

    On Tuesday, Khan, the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, announced that he would stage a public gathering at the Minar-e-Pakistan — considered the national emblem of the country and an expression of post-colonial identity — on March 19 as part of his party’s ongoing election campaign in Punjab province.

    Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh of the Lahore High Court (LHC) presided over the hearing and said the current situation in the provincial capital “tarnished the image of Pakistan across the world.”

    Justice Sheikh ordered that authorities should be informed about a rally at least 15 days in advance so that necessary security arrangements can be made, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

    Justice Sheikh also directed the PTI leadership to hold a meeting with Inspector General Police Punjab and the additional chief secretary to reach a consensus on their concerns that include “implementation of Imran Khan’s non-bailable arrest warrant, security plan and imposition of Section 144”, it added.

    Lahore’s upscale Zaman Park area, where Khan, 70, resides, turned into a battleground after his defiant supporters engaged in pitched battles with policemen on Tuesday to stop them from arresting their leader in the Toshakhana case, resulting in injuries to more than 60 people.

    Following the LHC order, police and other law enforcers withdrew from Khan’s residence on Wednesday, putting a halt to clashes.

    Khan, the former Pakistan Prime Minister has been in the crosshairs for buying gifts, including an expensive Graff wristwatch he had received as the premier at a discounted price from the state depository called Toshakhana and selling them for profit.

    Meanwhile, a district court judge in Pakistan said on Thursday that he would halt attempts by the Islamabad police to arrest Khan in a corruption case if the ousted premier surrendered before the court.

    Khan, a cricketer-turned-politician, was ousted from power in April last year after losing a no-confidence vote, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China and Afghanistan.

    Since his ouster, Khan has been asking for early elections to oust what he termed an “imported government” led by prime minister Shehbaz Sharif.

    Sharif has maintained that elections will be held later this year once the parliament completes its five-year tenure.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Cuttack varsity prohibits screening of ‘Gay India Matrimony’, ‘Had Anhad’

    Cuttack varsity prohibits screening of ‘Gay India Matrimony’, ‘Had Anhad’

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    Bhubaneswar: A day after cancelling a scheduled film festival at Ravenshaw University in Cuttack without citing any reason, authorities of the institute on Friday allowed students to organise the same with a rider.

    The organisers were told to remove two films ‘Had Anhad’ and ‘Gay India Matrimony’ from the line up that was prepared for the festival, according to a varsity official.

    Vice-chancellor Sanjay K Nayak was not available for his comment on the whole issue, but the university’s public relations officer, Dharmabrata Mohanty, said, “Some students were against the screening of the two films. We did not want any trouble, and they were taken off the list.”

    A member of the varsity’s film society said that the festival, scheduled to start at 10.30 am on Friday, was scrapped by the authorities just a day before, reportedly due to an anonymous threat call.

    The decision led to a massive protest outside the vice chancellor’s office, prompting the authorities to reconsider the decision, but with certain conditions, he said.

    The three-day event, the first of its kind in the university, is largely focused on filmmaker Satyajit Ray, with an exhibition put up in his memory, apart from other sessions involving other directors.

    Ray’s masterpieces Pather Panchali’ and Charulata’ are among the 15 films that were chosen for screening at the film festival.

    Talking to PTI, Ravenshaw Film Society secretary Subha Sudarshan Nayak said that Pather Panchali’ was among the films that had figured in the controversy on Thursday, as some students had objected to its screening.

    “A section of students did not want ‘Pather Panchali’ to be screened initially, claiming that the film romanticised poverty. The film was, however, shown today,” Nayak told PTI.

    The varsity later picked two other films from the list and cancelled their screenings, he said.

    Debalina Majumder, the director of ‘Gay India Matrimony’, termed the university’s decision “annoying and outrageous”.

    “I do not see any reason behind the last-minute decision to pull out our film from the list. ‘Gay India Matrimony’ has received required permission from the Central Board of Film Certification. We are mulling the option of approaching the governor of Odisha, who is also the vice-chancellor of Ravenshaw University,” Majumdar told PTI over phone.

    A group of students, reportedly affiliated to a rightwing outfit, however, came out in support of the university authorities.

    “We are opposed to screening of the film ‘Had Anhad’ and ‘Gay India Matrimony’ as they are against Indian culture,” one of the students said.

    Sources at the Ravenshaw University stated that the authorities stopped the screening of the two films fearing a possible unrest on the campus.

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    #Cuttack #varsity #prohibits #screening #Gay #India #Matrimony #Anhad

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )