Militants threaten Peshawar barbers, shops selling CDs to shut down
21 Jun 2008, 1413 Hrs

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Peshawar, June 21 (ANI): Islamic extremist organization Lashkar-i-Islam is learnt to have threatened barbers and shopkeepers selling CDs in Peshawar that if they didn't stop their activities, they would soon face dire consequences.

Activists of the Bara-based militant organisation visited video centres and barber shops in the provincial metropolis asking the people to avoid selling music CDs and shaving off beards.

They visited some CD shops at Choti Lal Kurti in the cantonment area on Thursday night and delivered them messages from their leader Mangal Bagh to give up the business, or face the consequences, reported the Dawn.

They also visited a shrine known as Khan Baba in the same locality and warned people to avoid visiting the shrine, otherwise action would be taken against them.

Shopkeepers said the militants had warned to take away the fence from the shrine when they would next visit the area. A cobbler quoted the militants as saying that people took hashish and indulged in gambling in the areas close to the shrine and they must be punished.

Local people said that as the shopkeepers received the messages they closed their shops, fearing action.

CD shops owners in Saddar and Nauthia also complained about visits of the militants to the area and their threats to give up the business. They demanded that the government should take action against the militant group and ensure protection to the business community.

The militants belonging to Mangal Bagh-led have destroyed many shrines in the Khyber Agency and some settled areas like Shaikhan and Sarband. (ANI)