Attacks on cinemas show that the Taliban want only chaos, citizens say.
Pakistani cinema-goers are frustrated with Taliban attacks on cinema houses.Cinemas are a cheap source of entertainment for low-income citizens who flock to auditorium screenings to watch their favourite heroes in action.
"We often watch Pashtu movies on the weekends to seek a few moments of leisure after tiring work," Abdul Jamil, a mason in Hayatabad Township, Peshawar, and frequent cinema goer, said. "It seems the Taliban's terror has slammed the doors of this enjoyment on us."
Miscreants February 2 detonated a bomb hidden in a turban that killed five cinema-goers at Picture House in Peshawar. Militants February 11 launched another attack that killed at least 12 people and wounded 24 others in a grenade attack on the Shama Cinema in Peshawar.
An agenda of chaos and oppression
Militants have long opposed other forms of entertainment, but Pakistanis consider such a stance an attack on local culture.
Cinemas received letters demanding that they stop their "shameful trade" or the militants would take action, Daraz Khan, manager of a local cinema, told Central Asia Online.
"The Taliban are attacking cinemas, places of entertainments, and mosques, places of worship," Saifullah Shah, a cinema house regular, said, adding that he does not really understand the militant group's agenda. "What they want is to create chaos and fear."
Cinema houses traditionally stood firm in not giving in to Taliban threats; after the two February attacks, however, police ordered all cinema houses in the city to close.
"The closure of cinemas after back-to-back bombings has disappointed us," Jamil said.
Fundamentalist militants have also demanded that mobile phone shops cease uploading musical ringtones and video clips, claiming they are haram.
"The Taliban are trying to snatch sources of entertainment from people as part of their onslaught against local culture," Daraz said. "Today, the Taliban are isolated because of these follies. Even their former well-wishers have become their foes."
Peshawar's once-thriving film industry
The city, which once had a roaring movie business, has 11 cinemas compared to 21 before the advent of militancy in about 2007.
"We receive [audiences] from Afghanistan, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), but the latest series of attacks has left us high and dry," Daraz said.
The Taliban have also angered artists like actor-director-producer Asif Khan, one of the pioneers of Pashtu movies.
The Peshawar cinemas would screen about 12 new Pashtu films yearly in better times, he said, recalling that Sundays and Eid particularly drew throngs to the cinemas.
The Taliban will fail to eliminate film because it is part of Pashtu tradition and culture, he said.
"The people hold us in high esteem," he said. "I can't go to public places because the people rush to greet me out of respect. The same is true for other performers."
Khan rejected militant allegations that cinemas showed obscene films. "We invite the Taliban to come and watch films," he said, adding that his films have no indecency.
"The Taliban's campaign against cinemas is just an effort to frighten the people and keep them away, he said. "The Taliban also attack mosques, funeral ceremonies, markets and schools as part of their agenda to spread terror."
Protecting the film industry
The police warned cinemas that they need to ensure security inside their businesses, Peshawar Police Chief Ejaz Khan said. "We have held meetings with them and informed them about the severity of the situation," Khan said.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Taliban deprive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa residents of entertainment
Attacks on cinemas show that the Taliban want only chaos, citizens say.
Pakistani cinema-goers are frustrated with Taliban attacks on cinema houses.Cinemas are a cheap source of entertainment for low-income citizens who flock to auditorium screenings to watch their favourite heroes in action.
"We often watch Pashtu movies on the weekends to seek a few moments of leisure after tiring work," Abdul Jamil, a mason in Hayatabad Township, Peshawar, and frequent cinema goer, said. "It seems the Taliban's terror has slammed the doors of this enjoyment on us."
Miscreants February 2 detonated a bomb hidden in a turban that killed five cinema-goers at Picture House in Peshawar. Militants February 11 launched another attack that killed at least 12 people and wounded 24 others in a grenade attack on the Shama Cinema in Peshawar.
An agenda of chaos and oppression
Militants have long opposed other forms of entertainment, but Pakistanis consider such a stance an attack on local culture.
Cinemas received letters demanding that they stop their "shameful trade" or the militants would take action, Daraz Khan, manager of a local cinema, told Central Asia Online.
"The Taliban are attacking cinemas, places of entertainments, and mosques, places of worship," Saifullah Shah, a cinema house regular, said, adding that he does not really understand the militant group's agenda. "What they want is to create chaos and fear."
Cinema houses traditionally stood firm in not giving in to Taliban threats; after the two February attacks, however, police ordered all cinema houses in the city to close.
"The closure of cinemas after back-to-back bombings has disappointed us," Jamil said.
Fundamentalist militants have also demanded that mobile phone shops cease uploading musical ringtones and video clips, claiming they are haram.
"The Taliban are trying to snatch sources of entertainment from people as part of their onslaught against local culture," Daraz said. "Today, the Taliban are isolated because of these follies. Even their former well-wishers have become their foes."
Peshawar's once-thriving film industry
The city, which once had a roaring movie business, has 11 cinemas compared to 21 before the advent of militancy in about 2007.
"We receive [audiences] from Afghanistan, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), but the latest series of attacks has left us high and dry," Daraz said.
The Taliban have also angered artists like actor-director-producer Asif Khan, one of the pioneers of Pashtu movies.
The Peshawar cinemas would screen about 12 new Pashtu films yearly in better times, he said, recalling that Sundays and Eid particularly drew throngs to the cinemas.
The Taliban will fail to eliminate film because it is part of Pashtu tradition and culture, he said.
"The people hold us in high esteem," he said. "I can't go to public places because the people rush to greet me out of respect. The same is true for other performers."
Khan rejected militant allegations that cinemas showed obscene films. "We invite the Taliban to come and watch films," he said, adding that his films have no indecency.
"The Taliban's campaign against cinemas is just an effort to frighten the people and keep them away, he said. "The Taliban also attack mosques, funeral ceremonies, markets and schools as part of their agenda to spread terror."
Protecting the film industry
The police warned cinemas that they need to ensure security inside their businesses, Peshawar Police Chief Ejaz Khan said. "We have held meetings with them and informed them about the severity of the situation," Khan said.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment