Pakistani film Ghost School, which highlights the challenges facing the education sector in Sindh, is set to reach cinemas in the province after the Sindh High Court permitted its screening without edits.
The decision brings an end to a three-month legal battle that began after the provincial censor board demanded cuts to certain scenes in the film, director Seemab Gul said.
Gul approached the court to challenge the demand, expressing relief after the ruling cleared the way for audiences in Sindh to watch the film.
Film Highlights Challenges Facing Girls’ Education
Ghost School follows Rabia, a 10-year-old girl who sets out to discover why the only school in her village has suddenly closed.
As she investigates rumours that the school is haunted, she uncovers a reality reflecting the challenges of non-functional schools and barriers to girls’ education in Sindh.
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Gul said she had always wanted people in the province to watch the film because its story was closely connected to their society and lived experiences.
Afghan-Born Filmmaker Connects With Story
The film’s cinematographer, Zamarine Wahdat, is an Afghan-born German filmmaker who said the subject held particular significance for her.
In an interview, Wahdat explained that threats to girls’ education and women’s rights following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 had made the issue especially meaningful.
She said the subject resonated with her personally and prompted her to work on Ghost School as cinematographer without accepting payment.
Release Planned for October 30
Despite the legal hurdles surrounding its release in Sindh, Ghost School has already been screened at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival and in at least 11 cinemas across Germany.
According to Gul, the film is scheduled to be released in Punjab and Sindh on October 30, bringing its story about educational challenges to audiences across both provinces.
