26/11 mastermind wins legal case against Saif Ali Khan-starrer 'Phantom'

A Pakistani court today banned the Bollywood movie ‘Phantom’ after JuD Chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed alleged it contained ‘filthy propaganda’ against him and his organization.

Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan from Lahore High Court ordered the ban of the Saif Ali Khan-starrer film after listening to Saeed's lawyer and the government’s legal counsel. He also asked the government what could be done to ensure the movie is not available at all after the ban.

The judge asked, "If a movie is banned in cinemas what the government could do to stop it from being available in the market in CDs."

In a High Court petition on 8^th August Saeed's lawyer A K Dogar alleged a “direct threat to the life of the petitioner (Saeed) and his associates emanating from the content of the trailer of the film.”

"It is obvious that dialogues coming out of the lips of the different Indian actors and actresses will poison the minds of Pakistani public and will portray Hafiz Saeed as terrorist even though JuD has not been declared as a proscribed organisation," Dogar said.

The government’s legal counsel said that since no one had asked for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the government for the release of the movie, the petition was ‘useless’.

"The petitioner is unnecessarily trying to involve the government," he said.

'Phantom' is based on Hussain Zaidi's novel ‘Mumbai Avengers’ and is set in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
Pakistan’s Censor Board has been sensitive about allowing exhibition of Indian films in Pakistan, especially when they are related to the country. Saif Ali Khan's 'Agent Vinod' and Salman Khan's 'Ek Tha Tiger' were also banned.

Image credit: Indiatimes