4 More Stage Actresses Face Action After Vulgar Dance Performances

The Punjab Council of the Arts, in collaboration with the Information and Culture Department, has initiated legal proceedings against four female stage actors and theatre management companies in Lahore and Gujranwala. This action follows a review of performances where violations of government policies, the Punjab Drama Act, and standard operating procedures were identified.

Mahboob Alam, Executive Director of PUCAR, triggered the action after receiving monitoring reports of misconduct during productions at several commercial theatres.

The council has issued show-cause notices to Sonia Lal, Nida Chaudhry, Khushboo Khan, and Fiza Anand. These notices allege vulgar dance routines, obscene gestures, and improper conduct during performances. The hearings for these notices are scheduled for September 16. The council has also served similar notices to theatre management and license holders in both cities, citing breaches including exceeding performance time, allowing audience members to throw money onto the stage, and turning off monitoring cameras during shows.

One specific incident involved the theatre management failing to prevent audience members from throwing money at the performers. Another case reported that theatre staff had switched off cameras during performances, which contravenes monitoring rules. The Punjab Drama Act, government policies, and standard operating procedures require strict compliance from all commercial theatres, as emphasized by the arts council.