Salman Sufi, an aide to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said the prime minister had set up a committee to evaluate the film. That committee decided to lift the ban.
Pakistani film Joyland won the award in competition at the 75th Cannes Film Festival this year. Which is the first in the film history of Pakistan.
The movie that made history was banned in Pakistan by the government. Now they have withdrawn from that decision.
The Pakistani government lifted the ban on the film on the condition that some scenes be cut before showing it across the country. An aide to the country’s prime minister confirmed the matter on Wednesday.
According to a report by news agency Mp, Salman Sufi, an aide to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, told The Associated Press that the prime minister had formed a committee to evaluate the film. That committee decided to lift the ban.
He said that the committee approved the movie after removing some scenes.” The decision easily sends a strong message that the government stands by and protects freedom of speech and does not allow mere propaganda or misinformation to stifle creative freedom,” said Salman Sufi.
Joyland depicts the love story between a married man and a transgender woman. That sparked controversy in Muslim-majority Pakistan, and state censors banned the movie from theaters last week.
Many people in Pakistan think of transgenders as casteless or outsiders. However, there is a landmark High Court judgment protecting their rights and designating a third gender.
Salman Sufi also said, ‘Transgenders are like any other citizens of Pakistan. We have launched a hotline from the Prime Minister’s Office for their problems and the Prime Minister is fully committed to protecting their rights.”
Meanwhile, Joyland will be released in Pakistani cinemas on Friday after the ban is lifted.
