Earlier Nandita Das requested Pakistan's I&B minister to release 'Manto' in Pakistan and now Pakistani civil society groups, journalists and artists have joined hands to demand the Imran Khan government to lift the ban from the film too.

The critically-acclaimed movie is a celebration of the legendary Urdu writer who chose to go to Pakistan post-partition in January 1948 after having lived in Bombay since 1936. He faced nearly half-a-dozen trials for his controversial and frank writings but his legacy is respected by people of the subcontinent.

Sharing the deets of the protest along with her movie poster and a black and white picture of the acclaimed Urdu writer Das wrote, "Beyond borders, the fight for freedom of expression is the same. Thanks to all those in Pakistan who are working to #FreeManto #Manto #FreeSpeech."

In an open letter to PM Imran Khan, petitioner Saeed Ahmed wrote,"Saadat Hassan Manto had faced persecution, torture and years of court trials during "Purana Pakistan." Would the same dreadful fate befall the writers, particularly,'Manto' in "Naya Pakistan"?"

Speaking to The Tribune from Lahore, Saeed Ahmed said, "Manto is under worst attack by the state machinery and censor board has taken the liberty to snub and kill sanity in my country. This is the attack on common sense and a good sense of the people."

Das too tweeted and thanked the petitioner for showing major concern for the release of her film. Manto got a theatrical release in India on 21st September, 2018.