‘Ghost School’ Gets Relief as Sindh High Court Orders Censor Board Review

The Sindh High Court has set aside most of the objections raised by the Board of Film Censorship against the public screening of Ghost School in Sindh and directed the board to reconsider the film’s certification within 10 days after the filmmakers remove Item No. 7.

The order was issued on a petition filed by the filmmakers, who challenged eight cuts and muted portions listed in the censorship report. They had sought a certificate allowing the film’s unrestricted public exhibition under the Universal (U) category.

The film Ghost School revolves around a 10-year-old girl who finds out that the only school in her village has been shut down over rumors of paranormal activity.

Justice Ali Sayeed headed a division bench and focused the board to evaluation the film’s certification within 10 days of the removal of Item No. 7. The film should be cleared for unrestricted public viewing without demanding any further edits or cuts.

However, if the board considers that holding any of the left over disputed cuts wants the film to receive a higher classification than U, it must give the filmmakers a personal hearing and issue a reasoned order explaining each concern with reference to Rule 11.

The court further directed the board to assign the least restrictive classification that adequately addresses its concerns. It clarified that the review must remain limited to the objections raised in the original decision, with no new objections allowed.

The court noted that it had previously directed the board, on August 21, 2026, to provide clear and understandable reasons for its decision. However, neither the challenged decision nor the respondents’ comments adequately explained the grounds for the objections.

In the absence of proper justification, the court held that the disputed cuts, except for the one accepted by the filmmakers, could not be upheld.