Extremism hits hard K-P musicians

The rising tide of militancy forced most K-P musicians to either flee the area or bid farewell to the profession.

PESHAWAR: Cultural K-P suffered the most. The rising tide of militancy not only brought death and destruction to the country during the last few years but affected all sections of the society. Professionals from all discipline including doctors, police, army, business community and other government functionaries had to suffer. And the musicians were no exception.

Most musicians and singers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) either fled the area or bid farewell to the profession. Peshawar’s Dabgari garden, previously the hub of musical activities, now gives a deserted look.

Famous TV artist, Alam Zeb Mujahid, was the first victim. The heavy hearted Alamzeb Mujahid announced his pre-mature retirement from the world of art at a press conference in Peshawar Press Club immediately after the blasphemous cartoon of the Prophet( PBUH) was printed.

“Today I say good bye to the world of art and will no longer be appearing on television screens in the future”, Alamzeb Mujahid said. “I will soon join the Tablighi Jamat to find salvation in the world hereafter,” he added.

Mujahid, an evergreen drama artist, was picked up by unknown armed men for ransom from Peshawar in January 2009.

Though Mujahid returned home safely, the message from the Jihadi’s was clear

“Artists are no exception”.

The following month, another young actor from Mardan, Arshad Hussain, was abducted.

Though he was recovered after 10 days, the mental trauma Hussain went through in this entire incident affected his health badly. “I don’t think this country has any respect or room for artists,” said Hussain. “We have to make our way somewhere else,” he added.

Haroon Bacha, another famous Pashtun singer, was lucky to make his way abroad before getting affected by all that was happening in Pakistan. Finding the situation stifling, the famous folk singer got settled in USA.

Gulzar Alam, famous for his revolutionary song ‘Rawakhle Bya Da Inqilab Sra Nishanoona’, sought to take refuge behind the beard, but it didn’t work and due to continuous threats he was forced to part ways with his profession.

Sardar Yousufzai, another young singer from Swat, escaped an assassination attempt but could not do anything to save his four colleagues after militants showered bullets on their van on the main Mingora Road leading to Mardan.

Moreover, the rising attacks on CD and video shops forced shopkeepers to close down their shops.

This left the field open for militants to flood the market with their own brand of Jihadi CD’s which was more attractive for its target audience and especially the younger generation who are impressionable.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2010.