The complexities and inefficiencies within India’s bureaucratic processes have been highlighted once again, this time by Delhi-based playwright Imran Zahid. His pursuit of clarity regarding the ban on releasing Pakistani films in India has hit a roadblock, with two ministries evading responsibility and leaving the playwright frustrated. Zahid’s inquiry, prompted by the unexplained cancellation of the highly anticipated release of Fawad Khan’s film “The Legend of Maula Jatt,” underscores larger questions about government transparency and accountability.
Fawad Khan, a cherished actor in Pakistan, has captured the hearts of Indian audiences with his limited but memorable appearances in Bollywood. Despite this demand, the legal and bureaucratic barriers for releasing his films in India persist, often characterized by a lack of official documentation or explanation. Zahid’s venture into this legal tangle began as he sought to understand the regulatory framework governing cultural collaborations with Pakistani artistes, including the possibility of releasing Pakistani films in India.
In his quest for definitive answers, Zahid submitted a Right to Information (RTI) query to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which then transferred the application to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). The MEA, adhering to protocol, passed the baton to the MIB, describing it as the correct department to handle such concerns. Zahid received confirmation of this transfer, complete with a new registration number—a procedural reassurance that quickly unraveled when MIB declared that the topic did not belong to their jurisdiction.
A month later, with no progress made, Zahid was left perplexed by MIB’s refusal to accept responsibility, raising questions about the handling of RTI applications. “Why would the MIB acknowledge my RTI if they were not equipped to address it?” Zahid asks. His frustration is compounded by the absence of a clear directive on which government body holds the definitive answers.
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The Supreme Court of India and the Bombay High Court had, in 2023, provided a semblance of legal clarity by ruling that there is no official ban on Pakistani artistes working in India. Despite these verdicts, Zahid’s search for an authoritative voice within the government to address his concerns remains unanswered. “RTI is meant to be a right to information, but it appears to be a refusal to information,” Zahid laments. He calls for clarity, emphasizing that stakeholders should be informed about regulations to avoid investing in projects that may face unexpected bans.
As Zahid pushes forward with his project, an Indian adaptation of the successful Pakistani drama series “Humsafar,” featuring Fawad Khan, the reality of unofficial bans looms over his creative endeavors. Recently, a Maharashtra political outfit issued warnings to cinema owners against screening Khan’s film, threatening violence, should they defy an unspoken but socially enforced embargo.
Reflecting on cross-border cultural exchange, Zahid highlights a disparity in Pakistan’s approach. Formerly, India’s Ministry of External Affairs acknowledged that Pakistan had not imposed any bans on Indian artistes performing within its borders, as articulated in 2015 and 2016 by then Minister of State, Gen (Dr) VK Singh (Retd).
Historically, the issue dates back to the 2016 Uri terror attacks, after which an unofficial ban on Pakistani artistes was imposed, with industry bodies like the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) citing security concerns and patriotism as justifications. The 2023 reaffirmation by India’s top courts dismissed pleas from various non-governmental entities to restrict Pakistani talent, reinforcing that such bans lack legal grounding.
As Zahid presses on with his creative pursuits and the broader implications of his case linger, the lack of clarity from administrative bodies raises fundamental questions about information access in India. Zahid’s experiences point to a larger narrative about transparency, governmental accountability, and the shared artistic culture between India and Pakistan, suggesting a need for revised and explicit policies governing cross-border artistic collaborations.
