The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has provisionally permitted the airing of the TV serial “Hadsa”, a show narrating the ordeal of a rape survivor, on the condition that a disputed scene in the fifth episode will not be broadcasted.
Previously, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had banned the serial following complaints that the 2020 motorway gang rape incident inspired it, a claim refuted by the show’s creators. The channel’s lawyer highlighted the lack of a formal hearing or notice before the ban. At the same time, PEMRA defended its stance, citing the show’s inappropriate content and its authority under the PEMRA Ordinance.
The IHC suspended the ban, noting the failure to provide a hearing as required by the Constitution and asked for assurance regarding the non-broadcast of the controversial scene, which the producers claimed adhered to Pakistani societal norms.
Read: Hadiqa Kiani Denies ‘Hadsa’ Is Based on 2020 Motorway Incident
