Pakistan lifts ban on Oscar-entry movie 'Joyland'

Islamabad: Censors are lifting a ban on Pakistan’s Oscar entry, "Joyland' but some scenes would be cut before the movie opens across the country, an aide to the prime minister told the media. The movie features a love story between a married man and a transgender woman. "The decision is a simple yet powerful message that the government stands by freedom of speech and safeguards it, and cannot allow mere smear campaigns or disinformation to be used as choking creative freedom," PM Aide Salman Sufi said.