Militant 'drive against vulgarity': 14 killed, 120 injured in last 10 years

Report says 14 people killed while 580 CD stores have been attacked by extremists between 2000-2011.

KARACHI: A report compiled by Pakistan Press Foundation on 'threats/violence against musicians and attacks on music shops in Pakistan - 2000-2011' has revealed that as many as 14 people including a woman were killed by the militants, five were kidnapped and more than 121 were injured in different incidents of violence over the past decade.

Extremist groups had carried out more than 97 attacks on CD/DVD and video shops while three wedding ceremonies/ musical programs were also attacked by militant groups in various parts of the country.

Militants had also issued life threats and imposed bans on more than 13 musicians and musical bands while over 580 shops were destroyed/ damaged in different attacks during last ten years.

Musicians and artists in Pakistan have been facing threats and attacks by extremist religious groups since a long time in a so-called ‘drive against vulgarity’.

As part of the drive, not only were musicians attacked themselves but music shops and CD stores were blown up, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

Many ransacking and burning of many music stores have become regular practice by those extremist groups.

Activists belonging to religious groups started their activities during the year 2000 when they destroyed billboards in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in 2002, a coalition of religious parties in power, had banned music in public transport, barred government employees from attending music and dance functions, and burned TVs, video tapes, DVDs and other  such items declaring them as immoral.

Hotels were forbidden to hold concerts, and many musicians had to reportedly shift to other safer cities like Lahore. However, despite the ban on playing music in public transport and places, many drivers listen to cassettes in their vehicles.

According to the report, 2007 was most dangerous and horrifying year for CD and Video store owners operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Innumerable CD shops, Video and music centers were blown up by extremist groups.