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Asserting power in Wana: Mullah Nazeer group ‘bans’ cellphone cameras
Militant group says such misuse of technology violates teaching of Islam, tribal customs.
Militant group says such misuse of technology violates teaching of Islam, tribal customs. PHOTO: FILE
DI KHAN:
The pro-government militant faction led by commander Mullah Nazeer has banned mobile phones with built-in digital cameras and memory cards in Wana – a subdivision of South Waziristan tribal region which is believed to be a stronghold of the militant leader.
The announcement, which was made through loudspeakers from different mosques, also warned that any tribesman found in possession of such a cellphone would be fined Rs15,000 and his device would be confiscated.
Prayer leaders and clerics in different mosques have also been asked to spread awareness amongst tribesmen in their Friday sermons about the camera phone ban.
The reason provided for this ban is that the misuse of such mobiles violates the teachings of Islam and tribal customs. Indian and Pashto songs on these phones were cited as an example. The ban is also being used to justify protecting the honour and dignity of tribal women to ensure no videos of them are recorded in violation of the purdah system in the area. There is only one mobile network inside the Wana Scouts camp and the adjacent localities of Wana subdivision.
In the past, the Mullah Nazeer group set ablaze several camera phones in Wana Rustam Bazaar, and warned tribesmen to avoid using these kinds of technologies.
Militants in Swat
Earlier, in Swat, three Taliban fighters were killed in an ambush with security forces in the Sarsardarey village of Manglawar union council late Friday night.
Security forces raided the location where militants were hiding following a tip by local residents, according to Swat Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) spokesperson Col Zeeshan.
“Locals of the area informed security forces about some suspected militants in the area,” he said. “Following their tip-off the security forces cordoned off the area and raided the location, at which point militants opened fire on them. The security forces killed three militants,” the spokesperson told local media, adding that two short machine guns (SMGs), one pistol and ammunition were also recovered from the militants. He added said that the area has been cleared of the Taliban and there was no resistance from their side.
According to sources, the militants hail from an area located on the border of Buner district.
The new wave of target killing in the valley has resulted in the death of several peace committee members. As a result of the frequent attacks, security forces have beefed up their presence in sensitive areas and set up extra check points in those places as well. (WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FAZAL KHALIQ IN SWAT)
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2012.
Reader Comments (22)
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Makes sense. Capturing images renders a Burqa useless, isn’t it and hence, against Islam. Camera Phones can be used to capture images ergo BAD!
Music is generally considered un-Islamic and hence, these phones which have the ability to play music are against Islam.
Taliban are always consistent and clear in their ideology.Recommend
after operation in south waziristan and swat militants are still there and even more.Now we think for noth waziristan operation but the result will be again zero.Why not we leave American war of terror which damages everything in Pakistan.
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Hallelujah!
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Is it any wonder that this tribal belt is not progressing at all? When it is being run by these fanatics who are still living in the stone age. Bring on the drones.
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haha..cant stop laughing..mulla nazir group
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political parties crying on the sovereignty should give their views on such ban seizing the rights of citizen conferred on them by National constitution .or some territory of the nation is ceded
( assuming it temporary )
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These illiterate Useful Idiots are just making everyday life of civilians harder.. they wont let the construction of roads. They wont let cell phone towers, so that no one can communicate but they’ll be still able to communicate through their thuraya’s… May God guide them!
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RAW,CIA,MOSSAD conspiracy
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The story of Arab, camel and his tent is being repeated in Wana and it might soon spread to whole of Pakistan for which military is entirely responsible for supporting certain factions of Taliban who are well known for switching their loyalties later and fight the state itself. No lessons have been learnt from the Swat experiment where Taliban antagonized and oppressed the people by enforcing dracunian laws and Mullah Nazir too is following the same pattern by banning cell phones which would soon be followed by many more restrictions.
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“Pro-government militant faction led by commander Mullah Nazeer has banned mobile phones with built-in digital cameras and memory cards”
isn’t dr Rehman Malick rocking in the same boat as this lunatic???Recommend
Isin’t dr Rehman Malick rocking in the same boat as this lunatic?
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So why killing not banned
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Shame on those politicle analysts who don’t get tired of teling us the difference between good taliban and bad taliban.They are one and the same.Why we need them?-Check on democracy.
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Kash, the mullahs of this country were educated, and stressed same amount of importance to education as Holy Prophet(pbuh) did.
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@Osman:
So… Nothing but a vague reference to it?
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Which kind of donkies follow these molvies is beyond me.
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back to the 7th centry they go….lol
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What kind of ease does a camera-intact mobile bring to the already hardest lives of these tribesmen? At least they haven’t banned mobile phones themselves like our beloved good Taliban who’ve been blowing up phone towers in Afghanistan saying people inform security forces about Taliban activities via mobile phones.
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I too would be laughing at the absurdity of these laws made by the militants. But the truth of the matter is that they are directly affecting fellow Pakistanis ! When will we rid our land of such extremist fools who, for some reason, think that to be an Islamic society is equivalent to being a regressed society with no basic human rights, freedom of speech etc.
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@tommy troll trash:
You’re busted troll
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” The reason provided for this ban is that the misuse of such mobiles violates the teachings of Islam and tribal customs”
So the reason for the ban is misuse of mobile phones with camera. What about MISUSE OF RIFLES, SUICIDE BOMBERS & FORCE.? will such misuse be declared banned by them ? may we suggest them to USE THE BRAIN. We feel it is being MISUSED.
“The pro-government militant faction led by commander Mullah Nazeer has banned mobile phones with built-in digital cameras and memory cards in Wana’ — it is still in the memory that
all Militants were ONCE pro Government. ( till their ideology was supported ). With changed scenario their guns have been trained against the Government .
.
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Let me know when the Middle Age is over.
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