‘Churails’ banned from streaming in Pakistan

The banning culture in Pakistan seems to be getting out of hand. The week started with calls to ban Mehwish Hayat’s latest biscuit commercial and now original Pakistani series Churails has been banned from streaming in Pakistan.

The director and creator of the show, Asim Abbasi took to social media to express his disappointment and hurt over the move.

“How strange for Churails to be lauded internationally, and now be shut down in its country of origin,” wrote Abbasi on social media. “In the very country where hundreds of artists came together to create something that could initiate dialogue and open doors for new narratives. Artistic freedom squashed because it is wrongly perceived by some as a moral threat. Predictable, and yet, still disappointing.”

He added: “For this is not just my loss. This is a loss for women and marginalised communities that this show meant to re-represent.”

How strange for #Churails to be lauded internationally, and now be shut down in its country of origin. In the very country where hundreds of artists came together to create something that could initiate dialogue and open doors for new narratives. (1)

— Asim Abbasi (@IllicitusProduc) October 7, 2020

This is a loss for all actors, writers, directors and technicians across Pakistan, who were hoping for digital/OTT to be their saviour. And it's a home-run for all the misogynists who have once again proven that they are the only voice that matters. (3)

— Asim Abbasi (@IllicitusProduc) October 7, 2020

Sarwat Gilani, who plays one of the leads in the show, also posted a cryptic message on social media after the ban.

Several Twitter users including Osman Khalid Butt and Sanam Saeed expressed their outrage over the ban.

Oh, you got Churails banned? Congratufuckinglations. Now please focus your outrage on the fact that police have failed to arrest the prime accused in the motorway rape incident.

— Osman Khalid Butt 🇵🇸 (@aClockworkObi) October 7, 2020

Banning dancing ads, outspoken films and webseries will not end rape if that's the agenda. Why are we riddled with such hypocrisy? Buss bandh darvaazon kay peechay ho sub. God forbid hamari bholi awaam influence na ho jai if we take creative liberty to be honest and open.

— Sanam Saeed (@sanammodysaeed) October 7, 2020

pic.twitter.com/oRYNQeA0jA

— Sanam Saeed (@sanammodysaeed) October 7, 2020

You can watch porn in #Pakistan but not #Churails ☺️

— FK (@faisalkapadia) October 7, 2020

Honestly, banning #Churails just shows “maard ko dard” hogaya hai. I am happy a lot of people got to watch it as soon as it was released. It was bound to touch a nerve. Hopefully more of such shows to follow!

— . (@sohanvd) October 7, 2020

Pakistani Govt has its priorities sTraiGhT.
They banned #churails, the content that engages in imp conversation but they won't impose a rape emergency.

— Maham Jamali (@JamaliMaham) October 7, 2020

Read more – The ‘Churails’ are the superheroes we wish we had

Though Churails released on August 11 and has already been streaming for almost two months, it is believed that the ban was imposed after a clip from the show went viral on social media. In the clip, Hina Khawaja Bayat’s character talks about giving a ‘hand job’ to a much older man for a promotion.

Featuring Sarwat, Yasra Rizvi, Nimra Bucha, Meher Bano and Omair Rana among others, Churails is the story of four self-proclaimed ‘Churails’ who come together to open a covert detective agency to expose cheating husbands amongst the city’s elite. As their operations expand, they come to be saviours of abused, harassed and mistreated women. The 10-episode series covers a myriad of issues such as child abuse, sexism, the domination of class and race and aims to challenge the hypocrisy of patriarchal societies.