A ghost of the past raised its heads in Mansehra district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Thursday after pamphlets were distributed amongst barber shop owners warning them to stop styling ‘beards in un-Islamic’ designs.
A group called the International Khatam-e-Nabuwwat Movement (IKNM) were found responsible for distributing the pamphlets.
According to barber shop owners, the group had warned them against styling beards in ‘French’ and ‘L’ cuts as it was an un-Islamic practice. Any barber found violating the order would be vacated from his property on a 15-day notice, the pamphlet warned.
Just a month ago there were reports of a local barber shop being attacked by a mob over the violation of the directives. The barber had to later apologise and settle the matter with local activists of IKNM.
After the incident, barber shop owners have completely refrained from shaping beards in stylish designs as two shops have already been closed over mere allegations of going against the warning.
IKNM Hazara division President Wasiur Rehman confirmed that members of his organisation were involved in distributing the pamphlets in different areas of Mansehra district.
He also revealed that the directive would first be implemented in Mansehra, followed by the province and then extended to the entire country.
He gave a stern warning that violators would be dealt with severely and their businesses would also be closed down. He claimed that no government official or personnel of the police department were stopping them from enforcing the “mission”.
The district administration denied the existence of such an order in Mansehra, while refusing to comment further on the matter.
