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The star of an Indian Bollywood comedy that pokes fun at Osama bin Laden has appealed to Pakistan's leaders to overturn a ban on its release over security fears and religious sensitivities.
Pakistani censors banned "Tere bin Laden" (Without you, Laden) before it was due to open at cinemas nationwide last week and have delayed a review of their decision, saying the film could offend Muslims and incite suicide attacks.
"I respect our censors and their vision yet I would say this movie really needs to be seen by every Pakistani as it is pro-Pakistan and highlights our problems within a light comedy," Pakistani actor Ali Zafar told reporters.
"I request to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Zardari to intervene in the matter and help allow Pakistanis to watch the movie," said Zafar, who is also a pop singer and plays the lead role in the film.
The film is a spoof about a Pakistani reporter who wants to migrate to the United States and hopes his interview with a chicken farmer who is the spitting image of the world's most wanted man can get him the visa he has been denied.
Publicity of the controversy has catapulted the low-budget film into the spotlight in India and abroad.
Censors said the film ridiculed Pakistani society, was offensive to Muslims, portrays bin Laden as a "coward and ridiculous", contained vulgar language and could fan hostility among "fanatic and fundamentalist elements" in Pakistan.
On the contrary, Zafar said, the film was "a 95-minute peace tape" and would improve Pakistan's image abroad:
"It tells the world that Pakistan is not a problem in itself but is a victim of circumstances."
Bombs and attacks blamed on Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants have killed more than 3,560 people across the nuclear-armed country since government troops besieged a radical mosque in Islamabad in July 2007.
Pakistan has a relatively free media, but authorities in May briefly shut down YouTube and Facebook over blasphemous content on the Internet. Internet links to material considered offensive are still blocked.
The film's promoters urged a speedy review of the ban.
