Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of the Oscar-nominated Joyland as he formed a high-level committee to review the ban on Joyland.

The development was announced by Salman Sufi in a tweet stating that the committee will assess the complaints as well as merits to decide on its release in Pakistan.

PM @CMShehbaz has constituted a high level committee to assess #Joyland and review its ban.

The committee will assess the complaints as well as merits to decide on its release in Pakistan.

Thank you @Marriyum_A for your efforts. #joylandbanned

— Salman Sufi (Get New Covid Booster Today) (@SalmanSufi7) November 14, 2022

Joyland, directed by Saim Sadiq, was originally set to release on November 18th, 2022, until Pakistan Censorship Board cancelled the release of Cannes Award Winner.

Before that Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed demanded a ban on the film on the basis of the subject. He said that the film tries to promote homosexuality and through such films, there is a plan to attack the social values of Pakistan.

پی ڈی ایم حکومت کاہم جنس پرستی کےابلاغ پرمبنی فرانسسی ایوارڈیافتہ فلم جوائےلینڈکی پاکستان میں نمائش کی اجازت کی مذمت کرتاہوں،اس فلم کی نمائش روکنے،عوام کوآگاہ کرنےکے لیےہرجائز/قانونی ذرائع کرینگے۔یہ فلم اسلام،ہمارےملک کےمعاشرتی اقدارکےخلاف اعلان جنگ ہے۔#Joyland #queer pic.twitter.com/cMo1Qv8mxQ

— Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan (@SenatorMushtaq) November 3, 2022

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, after receiving complaints against the film, an eight-member committee has been formed under the supervision of the Law Minister, which will include Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, PTA and PEMRA chairmen, Ministers for communications, investment, Ministry of information technology and adviser to the prime minister on Gilgit-Baltistan.

The film, which portrays the struggles of transgender persons, was to be Pakistan’s first official entry for the Oscars. However, for its eligibility for the nomination, it has to be released in the country a week before November 30.

Actors raise voice against Joyland ban

Following the news of the ban, there was an uproar on social media protesting the ban on the movie.

Some of the noticeable names of the industry also raise voice against the action taken by the Censorship Board.

Hi @Marriyum_A. The ban on #Joyland makes no sense.

(1) You can’t claim to be a democrat but go around banning movies and art!

(2) We go on about “showing Pakistan’s positive side”—this movie does exactly that, by putting Pakistani cinema on the world map. #ReleaseJoyland

— Mira Sethi (@sethimirajee) November 13, 2022

Joyland has made Pakistan proud by becoming the first South Asian film to win the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. It is a story of our people told by our people for our people. Hoping for it to be made accessible to these very people #ReleaseJoyland

— Humayun Saeed (@iamhumayunsaeed) November 14, 2022

Who are the real faces behind the ban verdict of #Joyland? What is the fear? How does one overcome it? How long will Pakistan be suffocated by hypocrites who enjoy all the benefits of the Western first world themselves but impose the ideology of the dark ages upon others? Buss na

— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) November 14, 2022

I personally do not believe in banning films that highlight issues faced by marginalized segments of our society. People should be trusted to watch & make their own mind.

I will request my friend @Marriyum_A to see if it’s possible to review the ban & meet the team #Joyland

— Salman Sufi (Get New Covid Booster Today) (@SalmanSufi7) November 12, 2022

اس طرح کی زیادہ تر کمپین آپس کی بزنس Rivalry’s ہوگی ہیں، ایک پارٹی پیسہ لگاتی ہے کہ دوسرے کی ریلیز میں دیر ہو جائے کیونکہ سینما اسلرین محدود ہیں اور زیادہ ے تر لوگ وہ شامل ہوتے ہیں جنہیں پتہ ہی نہیں ہو گا کہ فلم ہے کیا کمزور وزیر ہو تو دباؤ میں آ جاتا ہے https://t.co/76DuEUnB9t

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 14, 2022

Decision to withdraw certification of film #Joyland just days before its scheduled release is wrong. It is bending over backwards to appease the self styled moral brigade. It violates right of freedom of expression of producers & the right of people to choose. Reverse it please

— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) November 13, 2022