By Zofeen Ebrahim
Karachi, Oct 9 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A Pakistani drama praised for its progressive portrayal of women was put back on the air on Friday after being removed from a streaming platform earlier this week following complaints to authorities.
The 10-episode series, which launched in August and tracks four women who set up an undercover detective agency to expose unfaithful husbands, has won plaudits for showing strong female characters taking control.
It also shows women swearing, drinking and taking drugs, and tackles subjects seen by many in conservative Pakistan as taboo, including sexual abuse, marital rape and homosexuality.
Earlier this week the series, called “Churails”, or “Witches”, was removed from Zee5, an entertainment platform that was streaming it in Pakistan, without explanation.
“The show was taken off the platform in Pakistan purely in compliance with a directive that we received,” a spokesman for Zee5 told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in emailed comments.
“We have now addressed the matter and reinstated the show on our platform”.
The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority said it had contacted the platform after receiving complaints about the programme.
