<i>Agent Vinod</i> banned in Pakistan

Saif Ali Khan in Agent Vinod

Pakistan's Central Board of Film Censors has banned the Saif Ali Khan-Kareena Kapoor starrer Agent Vinod scheduled to be released here on Friday along with its India opening.

While the Board itself has not made any official statement, the reason being bandied about is that it contains uncharitable references to the ISI.

Because of its star cast,

Agent Vinod had begun trending on Pakistani media earlier this month itself with several news channels showing clips of the film including bits from the two songs ‘Pyaar ki Pungi' and ‘Dil Mera Muft Ka'. Earlier, another film starring the duo —

Qurbaan — was banned by Pakistan.

According to IMGC Global Entertainment (Pvt) Ltd., — the distributors of the film —

Agent Vinod had been banned due to the contents. Atrium Cinemas of Karachi also confirmed the ban but the film's posters and trailers are still available on both websites.

Being the leading distributor of Indian films in Pakistan, IMGC chairman Amjad Rashid said films should facilitate the peace process between the two countries and not disturb it.

“Now that India and Pakistan are extending cooperation on business fronts especially after the exchange visits of both the ministers of commerce, this can jeopardize the business progress and environments,'' he said in a statement.

As news broke of the ban, it triggered a debate within the country and blogosphere was abuzz with comments ranging from both extremes of welcoming the proscription and lamenting the chance to see a new Bollywood venture. Some commented that the ban meant Pakistan remained an ‘un-Saif' country while others wondered why any one would deny such good publicity for the ISI as Kareena plays the role of a Pakistani spy.