ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The murder of young singer Ghazala Javed in Peshawar confirmed how much the Taliban is present and how strong it is in the Pakhtun belt of Pakistan. A singer who rejected a decree from the Taliban to end her career in music is no longer with us. On August 13, 2012, following threats from the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban, the dealers in Landi Kotal Bazaar shut down shops on Monday, fearing attacks from the militant group.
A pamphlet in the Urdu language distributed by the TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban) in Landi Kotal Bazaar warned that the mobile dealers in the market were promoting vulgarity by uploading obscene movies, songs, and ring-tones in cell phones, which they said were un-Islamic. It further said that the dealers must give up their businesses or face action.
The warning on a letterhead of the TTP threatened the shopkeepers, saying: “The mobile businesses which are promoting these activities are totally un-Islamic, so the money earned from the business is also ‘Haram’ and must be given up; those not complying would be dealt with sternly.”
Such a situation strongly compels one to think that the Taliban is as strong in the region as they were 10 year ago, perhaps even stronger, because their area of target has expanded to other parts of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the Federal Minister for Interior Affairs, Rehman Malik ,has said that there is threat of terrorism in the country on the occasion of Independence Day.
Speaking to a high-level meeting on Monday, he directed to beef up security measures on the occasion of Independence Day and Eid. He directed all provincial home Secretaries and IGPs to implement further on already existing security SOPs [Standard Operating Procedures], adding that security forces should get ready to control any unpleasant incident.
The Federal Minister directed high officials to tighten the security of government buildings, railway stations, airports, and public places.
He also directed to keep a vigil on suspicious persons. Malik, on the occasion, directed strict security measures be taken in Quetta and Naushki. He also directed snap checking on entry and exit points of Islamabad.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- A pamphlet in the Urdu language distributed by the TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban) in Landi Kotal Bazaar warned that the mobile dealers in the market were promoting vulgarity by uploading obscene movies, songs, and ring-tones in cell phones, which they said were un-Islamic.
- Speaking to a high-level meeting on Monday, he directed to beef up security measures on the occasion of Independence Day and Eid.
- Such a situation strongly compels one to think that the Taliban is as strong in the region as they were 10 year ago, perhaps even stronger, because their area of target has expanded to other parts of Pakistan.
