Pakistan disallows Tere Bin Laden from screening

MUMBAI: The Pakistani Censor Board has not cleared Walkwater Media‘s Tere Bin Laden to release in Pakistan over fears of terrorist attacks.

The Board decided not to clear the film because it has Al Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden as a central character. The Censor Board vice chairman Masood Elahi told the media there was no justification for releasing the film in Pakistan under the present circumstances.

The federal Culture Secretary is authorised to allow the exhibition of the film under special powers bestowed on him, Elahi said. 

Lead player and Pakistani distributor Zafar had formed a new company to distribute the movie in Pakistan. Due to sensitivities linked with the title and fears about a reaction from Taliban and other militant groups, distributors had drawn up plans to drop ‘Laden‘ from the film‘s title and release it as Tere Bin in the country.

Expressing his disappointment at the Censor Board‘s ruling, Zafar has appealed to Pakistani authorities to review the decision saying that there was nothing controversial in the film.

The film is scheduled to release worldwide on 16 July.