Taliban threatens mobile phone shop owners in Peshawar

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan warn mobile phone dealers against promoting vulgarity.


Riaz Ahmad March 02, 2013
A shopkeeper (C) bargains with clients in a mobile market in Peshawar on March 2, 2013 which received threats from the Taliban. PHOTO: AFP

PESHAWAR: Police on Saturday banned parking of motorcycles in the premises of Bilour Plaza and the nearby Time Centre after threat-bearing letters from militants warned mobile phone dealers against promoting vulgarity.

In the letters, which were delivered by post, local Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Mullah Qari Ahmad Yar said his informers repeatedly told him that traders and mobile phone dealers in the two buildings were spreading pornographic films and songs via memory cards.

"We have found the information is correct and that is why it was decided in a meeting that you shall be given a week’s deadline to stop the business of memory cards, music and porn movies. Otherwise, traders themselves will be responsible for the consequences," stated the letter.

"We will make you an example for the rest of the world on the pattern of Meena Bazaar," adds the letter, referring to the deadly bomb blast in the crowded market in October 2009. Over 100 people died in the explosion, while 18 people are still missing to this day.

The TTP had also warned shopkeepers in Karkhano market in Peshawar last month to stop selling “obscene films” and Viagra-style male potency pills.

“Selling sex drugs, vulgar films and obscene movies are against Sharia,” said copies of the handwritten pamphlets that shopkeepers found.

COMMENTS (14)

James | 11 years ago | Reply

@Faizan: A bomb will kill innocent as well as guilty.So no doubt its a wrong step

p r sharma | 11 years ago | Reply

TTP has the vision of their version of Sharia law for Pakistan and long back cleared their intention to all. In this back drop all political parties except MQM have authorized peace talk with TTP ( more than willing to talk or constrained to this position to reach a peace deal ) and expected to go ahead .TTP 's warning to mobile shop owners to stop selling what is assumed by them as anti Sharia clearly indicates their extension of writ in the towns & cities. Now, in view of eagerness on the part of political parties there is possibility of some compromise on the stand of TTP on Sharia law. Even if the action of political parties is to use the peace dialogue to garner the vote of right wing minded people, the end result will be uncontrollable by democratic parties and the entire people should keep themselves mentally prepared to accept TTP's version of Sharia. Till then hope for the best.

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