Yasir Hussain, Ayesha Omar express disappointment over ban on ‘Javed Iqbal’

Actors Yasir Hussain and Ayesha Omar have expressed their disappointment after the government of Punjab has halted the release of their much-awaited crime thriller film Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer.

The film, which was scheduled to hit the theatres nationwide on Jan. 28, had been approved by the censor boards and scheduled for its theatrical release.

Following the government’s notice, film’s lead actor Hussain, who essays the titular character in the film, turned to Instagram expressed his disappointment.

In his post, the Lahore Se Aagey actor questioned if independent filmmakers would get a chance in this country.

Omar, on the other hand, who plays a police officer, running the investigation on the serial killer, also took to Instagram and reacted to the government’s decision.

“This is so sad. The film had been passed by all censor boards including Punjab and only then was the release date announced. But right after the Karachi premiere, 2 days before the release of the film, the Punjab Government decided to halt the release and review it again,” she wrote.

“Films like this, based on true events and real-life horror stories, which expose the psychology of psychopath serial killers like Javed Iqbal, talk about issues like child kidnapping, abuse and murder, shed light on the dark side of society and our social construct, are very, very important,” she continued adding that films like this need to be made and they need to be seen.

“We have worked very hard on this film. I do hope the government makes the right decision in order for conversations like this to start and continue, for Pakistani Cinema to survive, and also, so that “inhuman” humans like Javed Iqbal can be identified in society. The director and producer have filed a petition against this decision in Lahore high court. Praying for the best. Please help us to make this hashtag viral,” she concluded.

The film revolves around the story of the man who sexually abused and killed more than 100 children in Lahore, Pakistan between 1998 and 1999. The killer not only tortured and murdered the children but also butchered and dissolved their bodies in acid to get rid of the evidence. He was sentenced to death in the same way.

Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer is written and directed by Abu Aleeha and is produced under the banner of KK Films by Javed Ahmed. Other than Hussain and Omer, the cast also includes Paras Masroor, Rabiya Kulsoom and Aamir Yamin and several others