Censor board: PTI MPA tables bill in KP assembly

A PTI member of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has tabled the much awaited bill to constitute Censor Boards to examine and certify films, CDs, videos, stage dramas and shows for public exhibitions and declare area in respect of which each such board would exercise its powers. The first draft of the legislation was prepared during the previous ANP-PPP coalition government, but failed to table it in the provincial assembly due to reasons known to them.
The present government first introduced the bill in the house two years back, but to the lacunas identified by the opposition benches, the provincial government suited it better to withdraw it and at last the bill was once again tabled in the house, but as a private member bill.
The proposed board to be established under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Censorship of Motion Pictures (Films, CDs, Videos, Stage Dramas and Shows) Act, 2018 would be extended to the whole province of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and would come into force at once.
The board would consist of a chairman and not less than three members to be appointed by the 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.
After the promulgation of the Act, 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.
Any person desiring to submit any film, CD, video, stage drama and show etc for certification for public exhibition would, in a prescribed manner, make an application to the board for a certificate in respect of thereof along-with its re-recording, print or such equivalent material as the board may determine, including sound tracks of speech, songs, music and effect, and refer the case to the board, which may, after examining or having it examined, in the prescribed manner to sanction it for unrestricted public exhibition; or sanction for such restricted public exhibition as may be prescribed or direct the applicant to carry out such excisions in the films, CD, video, stage drama and show, as the board members necessary before sanctioning the same for unrestricted or restricted public exhibitions or refuse to sanction the film CD, video, stage drama and show for public exhibition.
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.