No More Mujra: Punjab Government Cracks Down on Obscenity in Theatres

The Punjab government has taken a significant step to reduce obscenity and nudity in stage plays such as mujra etc. by introducing a new Drama Act throughout the province.

The control of all theatre halls, including those in Lahore, has moved from the Home Department to the Information and Culture Department.

The new law, called the “Punjab Theatrical Performance Ordinance 2023,” lets the Punjab Arts Council and the Information and Culture Department monitor and control what artists do. This new law replaces the old Dramatic Performance Act of 1876, which was 150 years old.

Previous attempts to stop obscenity in commercial theatres faced many legal issues. Last August, when caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi was in office, the government closed over 10 large commercial theatres in Lahore, Sheikhupura, and Kasur for breaking the old Drama Act and promoting obscene content.

Ali Nawaz, the then Secretary of Information and Culture Punjab, played a key role in this effort. He created a detailed report suggesting that administrative control of commercial theatres be transferred to the Information and Culture Department.

The new act gives the Punjab Arts Council (PCA) the power to oversee all theatre performances, from script approval to monitoring and disciplinary actions. Previously, the Deputy Commissioner’s Office and the Home Department were in charge of monitoring theatre activities. However, by the time they acted, the performances were often over, and the artists had moved on to other theatres.

Section 10 (a) of the Punjab Council of Arts Act, 1975, now allows the PCA to advise the government on all matters related to artistic and cultural activities.

A committee formed by the Council reviewed the old Dramatic Performance Act and suggested changes to make it more effective. With the new ordinance, the PCA will create business rules for commercial theatres, ensuring complete oversight from script to performance.

The artists’ community supports this change, hoping it will remove obscenity from the stage. Qaiser Sanaullah, Chairman of the Punjab Theatres Producers and Artists Association, was one of the first to speak against obscenity in theatres. He stressed the importance of creating family-friendly plays and praised the recent play “Zill-e-Shah” at Tamashil Theatre, which was well-received by families.

Sanaullah believes that the new Drama Act will help restore the glory of stage dramas by eliminating obscenity completely.

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