Islamabad High Court has ordered PEMRA to screen the highly controversial drama serial ‘Hadsa’ on TV again.
In a recent turn of events, the IHC suspended the ban imposed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on the television show Hadsa.
Why is ‘Hadsa’ considered controversial?
Hadsa, although a drama, is quite similar to a real-life rape incident that took place in September 2020 where a woman was sexually assaulted on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway.
This unfortunate incident prompted protests and sparked outrage. Now, airing the drama similar to the incident almost three years later, not only faced a huge backlash from viewers but it was also said that it triggered the survivor in the most possible way.
Moreover, her consent was not taken before airing the drama serial. Many viewers blamed the makers of the drama for making countless money out of someone else’s misery.
On the other hand, the makers of ‘Hadsa; categorically denied that their drama was based on the actual incident.
Ban
Read more: ‘Hadsa’ producer denies drama is based on motorway incident
In August, following many complaints, PEMRA banned the airing of a TV drama titled Hadsa. The official decision came after a complaint from a lawyer who argued that the show being aired by Geo TV centered around the 2020 motorway gang rape case. The move was prompted by concerns and criticism surrounding the show’s subject matter.
Makers applaud IHC’s decision
Wajahat Rauf, the showrunner of Hadsa, expressed his gratitude for the court’s decision and stated that the court has allowed the fictional character Taskeen to tell her inspirational story of getting justice for herself and all other survivors like her.
“Taskeen’s story is about how she became a survivor instead of a victim with a resolute struggle for justice. We are grateful that viewers will get to see the story in its entirety,” he said in a statement.
On what basis did the court lift the ban?
The court’s decision to suspend the PEMRA ban was based on several factors. The court in its order stated that PEMRA had not given any right of hearing to the applicant/appellant before passing the prohibitory order.
It was further highlighted that “where the obscenity of such part is too pronounced to eschew, only the objectionable part should be prohibited from being broadcasted and directed to be suitably modified.
As per the court, the broadcast or rebroadcast of the complete play or drama must not be prohibited subject to furnishing of an undertaking by the producer/director of the drama serial Hadsa that the rape scene (if any) referred in episode five may not be repeated/re-telecasted/broadcasted in any manner in the subsequent episodes.
