Mingora, October 16: Saeed Khan lost his CD and video shop in Timargarah, the capital of Dir district, after it was attacked by local Taliban militants for not heeding their threats to stop selling porn movies.
Now that Taliban has almost been defeated in the restive province, he is ready to reopen his shop, but is vowing never to resume his old bad business.
“I believe whatever we have recently faced (migration and destruction) was simply the punishment for our bad deeds,” Khan told.
“We all must learn form that.”
Hundreds of CD and video shops in the troubled valley of Swat and southern districts of the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) have been blown up by Taliban during the past two years, especially a few months before security forces launched a massive operation in Swat in May.
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Scores of people lost their lives in attacks on these shops in respective areas.
But Khan, a father of three, was not at the shop when it was blown up in a grenade attack by Taliban in August. His salesman was badly injured though.
The shop used to make Rs 30,000 (480 dollars) to Rs 40,000 (500 dollars) per month before the attack.
But Khan is now willing to earn less in order to stop selling porn, voluntarily this time.
“I have been in this business for a long time. I know there is much room in this business without selling porn movies,” he contends.
“And even if there is a decrease in my income, I don’t care. Allah will help me.”
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Liaquat Ali, a leader of the CD shop owners association in Swat, admits that many of the shopkeepers were involved in selling obscene CDs and videos.
This, he contends, did not only irk the Taliban, but also a majority of local people, who by and large have a tilt towards religion.
“People of Swat and its adjoining districts are religious. They do not like our business and they particularly hated it after some started keeping porn CDs.”
Ali insists that all this will change.
“We have decided from the association’s platform, that no one from us will sell such obscene CDs and movies,” he told.
“And if someone violates this decision, he will be cornered.”
But Ali asserted that hundreds of CD and video shop owners in Swat and the NWFP, whose business has been totally destroyed by bomb attacks and life threats, need financial support to resume their business.
“Our only demand is that we should be compensated so that we can restart our destroyed business.”
Ali used to own a major shop in the midst of Mingora bazaar. It was blown up last year after he ignored two repeated warning letters from Taliban.
He took refuge in Peshawar after the attack on his shop and was allowed to return only after a written apology to Taliban assuring them of giving up this business.
“This was once considered one of the most lucrative businesses in the valley and the adjoining areas. It has been totally ruined and hardly a few CD and video shops are still doing business in the valley,” he noted.
“Thousands of people depend on this business. Therefore, the international donors should help us restore our business.
“We are penniless right now and have no resources to resume our businesses.”
-Agencies