Senate Panel Seeks Changes to ‘Buleha’, Faster PECA Case Transfers and Relief for Media Workers

A Senate committee has recommended changing the title of the film Buleha and removing a disputed dialogue over concerns that the production misrepresents the peaceful teachings of Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah.

The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting discussed the matter during a meeting at Pakistan Television headquarters in Islamabad, held under the acting chairmanship of Senator Sarmad Ali.

The committee said the film appeared to associate Baba Bulleh Shah’s message with violence and firearms through its lead character. Members questioned the grounds on which the Central Board of Film Censors had approved the production.

The board’s chairman informed lawmakers that the film had also received clearance from censor authorities in Punjab and Sindh. The committee, however, rejected that explanation and called for a transparent, merit-based process for appointing members of censor boards.

Following deliberations, the panel recommended asking the producers to rename the film and remove a dialogue in which the main character compares himself with Baba Bulleh Shah. It warned that failure to make the changes could lead to the film being blocked from release and potentially removed from YouTube.

NCCIA Briefs Committee on PECA Cases

The committee also reviewed notices issued by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and the transfer of PECA-related cases from provincial authorities.

NCCIA clarified that previously cited figures concerning social-media content removal by Meta had been taken from publicly available company data. The committee accepted the explanation while stressing that official and media reporting should rely on verified information.

Officials said only nine PECA cases from Sindh had so far been transferred to NCCIA, while other cases remained under process.

Senator Sarmad Ali directed that letters be sent to relevant provincial authorities, asking them to speed up the transfer of pending cases. The recommendations and report of the Senate subcommittee on information and broadcasting are also to be forwarded for implementation.

Columnist’s Case Referred to Press Council

Lawmakers also examined an NCCIA notice issued to a newspaper columnist over allegedly controversial remarks about the bureaucracy.

The agency said the notice had been issued to obtain the writer’s position after complaints were filed by the president of the PAS Officers Association. No first information report had been registered, and the columnist had not yet responded.

The article had been removed from the newspaper’s electronic edition but remained available on the columnist’s Facebook page.

Committee members recalled assurances given in Parliament that PECA would not be used against the websites or digital platforms of newspapers and television channels, whose content falls under the Press Council of Pakistan and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority.

The committee unanimously said the dignity of all individuals must be protected. It directed NCCIA to refer the complaint and complainant to the Press Council, describing it as the appropriate forum to examine the column and decide the matter.

Radio Pakistan Pension Cases Remain Pending

The committee further reviewed grievances raised by Radio Pakistan pensioners.

Officials said 353 commutation cases remained pending and that the organization continued to rely on federal grant-in-aid funding.

The panel was informed that the prime minister had already constituted a committee to address unresolved issues concerning Radio Pakistan, PTV, and the Associated Press of Pakistan.

Senator Sarmad Ali directed that the pensioners’ cases also be placed before the prime minister’s committee and called for an early resolution.

The meeting was attended by Senators Abdul Shakoor, Syed Waqar Mehdi, Pervaiz Rashid, and Jan Muhammad.

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