LAHORE, June 1: The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday adopted a bill seeking jail term and fine for those indulging in eroticism, indecency, immorality and obscenity in the name of art and culture.
The bill, tabled by MMA’s Ehsanullah Waqas, Muhammad Waqas and Arshad Baggu, was referred to the standing committee on art and culture for report within a month. The movers say the existing law, the Punjab Council of Arts Act 1975, disallows indecency in arts and culture but does not provide a penalty for its violators.
The proposed law prescribes a jail term of three months or a fine of Rs100,000 or both for the violators. Law minister Raja Basharat did not oppose the bill and rather said that the government wanted to introduce a joint bill on the subject.
The house also adopted a bill for amending the Punjab Board of Technical Education Ordinance 1962 to make the governor, controlling authority of the board, act on the advice of the provincial chief executive in matters related to technical education.
This bill was also tabled by MMA legislators. There was an interesting scene when Ajmal Cheema opposed the bill, admitting later on that he did not know which bill had been tabled.
The minister was again in trouble when Mr Baggu objected to his reading from papers while opposing the bill. Mr Cheema argued that he was doing so as he did not remember all sections of the bill and other relevant laws.
Don't worry about it ahmadjee... these politicians will gladly assume the onerous duty of deciding morality... that way they can view porn all day long to render decisions on what is indecent, what needs to be punished and what needs to be photocopied.
Faisal Bhaijaan, I think it works in a different way. One concerned (off course) citizen will sue the actors, director & producer of a 'production' or 'publication' calling it indecent & then the court will decide (mainly on political & public pressure - or in other words how many hooligans are threatening to burn down the court if the decision is not in their favor).
Well, it will be the painters and artists, who would forever be unsure if their new masterpiece can turn out to be their death-warrant. All those slap-stick comedians performing on the stage will stop improvising and run for their lives. Good show, I'd say.