Senate Committee Recommends Renaming Film ‘Bullah’ and Revising Dialogues Before Screening

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting has recommended temporarily halting the screening of the film Bullah, calling for a change in its title and revisions to certain dialogues before it is allowed to be exhibited.

The recommendation was made during a committee meeting chaired by Senator Sarmad Ali, where the Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) briefed lawmakers on objections raised regarding the film and the process through which it was approved.

CBFC officials informed the committee that the film had already been approved by the Punjab and Sindh censor boards under its current title without any cuts. They clarified that the federal censor board’s jurisdiction is limited to the Islamabad Capital Territory and cantonment areas.

The officials explained that decisions regarding the approval or rejection of films are made collectively by the board, while the chairman is authorized to cast a deciding vote only in the event of a tie.

They further stated that if the committee recommends banning the film or changing its title, the matter could be referred to the federal government, which serves as the next appellate forum.

During the meeting, Senator Pervaiz Rashid remarked that the reputation of the film’s writer, Nasir Adeeb, should not by itself serve as a sufficient defense of the film. He said that although Nasir Adeeb is widely recognized as a film writer, that does not necessarily establish his expertise in Pakistani history, culture, or national personalities.

Senator Pervaiz Rashid also observed that the film Maula Jatt popularized the gandasa as a cultural symbol, adding that he himself had not been familiar with the weapon before the film’s release.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Senator Sarmad Ali proposed that the title of Bullah be changed, certain dialogues be revised, and the film’s screening be postponed until the recommended changes are implemented.

Written by Nasir Adeeb and starring Shaan Shahid and Saleem Shah in lead roles, Bullah was originally released on March 21, 2026, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. However, its exhibition in cinemas has recently become the subject of controversy and regulatory scrutiny.