Film censors run scared from Bin Laden joke

2010-07-15

A Bollywood film has been banned in Pakistan due to its depiction of Osama bin Laden.

Pakistan’s film censorship board has banned the Indian comedy which was set for release on Friday

The film, which features an Osama lookalike, is a Hindi film about a Pakistani journalist who pretends to score an interview with the elusive al-Qaeda leader.

In the plot, the journalist tries to improve his chances of emigrating to the US by scoring an interview with the Osama bin Laden "lookalike."

By selling his “breakthrough scoop” to news channels he hopes the US will grant him residency.

The ban had been anticipated on grounds that extremists might trigger new attacks in Pakistan, which has already been targeted by al-Qaeda extremists.

The 57-member cdensors board in Pakistan is made up of members from the media, public representatives and religious leaders.

Osama bin Laden is believed to be hiding in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

Source: South East Asia News.Net