LAHORE: The Punjab home department sent show-cause notices to 14 stage actresses performing in commercial theatres for obscene and vulgar performances.
The Punjab government has launched a crackdown on commercial theatres and started closely monitoring them to eliminate the scandalous, obscene performances and vulgar dances.
The stage actresses issued show-cause notices include Mehak Butt, Komal Chaudhry, Qismat Shahzadi, Nayab Khan, Sheela Chaudhry, Ayan Akhtar, Sonu Butt, Khushboo Khan, Roshani Khan, Kajal Chaudhry, Sara Khan, Mahnoor, Jia Butt and Tabassum Khan.
They have asked to provide written replies within seven days why their performances should not be banned under the Dramatic Performances Act 1876.
The authorities served notices to nine actresses on August 9 but they did not submit their replies. A FIR was lodged against two actresses, Shama Rana and Payal Chaudhry, who secured pre-arrest bail.
After incidents of vulgar dances at the Alhamra Hall, the provincial Information and Culture Department constituted committees to monitor stage performances at 12 government theatres working under the Punjab Arts Council.
The information and culture department has dismissed Lahore Arts Council (LAC) Executive Director Saleem Sagar. He was facing allegations of corruption and several incidents of vulgar and obscene dances unfolded at the government-run theatre at Alhamra Art Centre.
The home department is contemplating lodging FIRs against owners of commercial theatres and stage actresses for vulgar and obscene performances and ban them from performances at any theatre in the province.
