Ban on cultural activities: K-P govt denies rumours

Home department maintains no ban was imposed in Swat nor that the local artist community migrating

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has denied rumours that a ban had been imposed on cultural activities in Swat. A notification issued by the K-P Home and Tribal Affairs department on Saturday stated that it conducted a detailed inquiry into the reports and found them to be untrue. The department maintained that in contrast to the rumours, neither was a ban imposed in Swat and nor were the local artist community migration as a result. The government, however, on receiving public complaints of drug peddling and other “immoral activities”, enhanced police patrolling in Banu and Mingora. On July 16, local newspapers in Swat had reported that a ban had been imposed on cultural activities, prompting local musicians to migrate.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2012.