The Pakistani Taliban on Saturday threatened to bomb a mobile phone market in the northwestern city of Peshawar for the “shameless” selling of video clips, ring tones and accessories.
According to sources, some 60 shopkeepers received letters in the post ordering them to burn the offending stock, including memory cards and speakers for MP3 players. They were further ordered to stick to selling only mobile phones and essential accessories. They were given a warning of one week for compliance.
DVD and CD shops have in the past been bombed by militants who deemed the businesses “un-Islamic”.
The shopkeepers said that they had immediately closed down their shops, especially the ones dealing in ring tones and video clips.
They said parking spots for motorcycles – which were sometimes packed with explosives and detonated – had been moved away from the market and police had been asked to increase security.
Police official said patrols had been stepped up around the market in Peshawar.
