Extremists blow up 20 video shops in Pakistan
May 04 2007 at 10:02AM
Islamabad - Radical Islamists have blown up 20 video shops in two cities of Pakistan's North Western Frontier Province (NWFP), while a bomb exploded outside a girls' school in the same region, local media reported on Friday.
Several small bombs exploded in the semi-tribal cities of Charsadda and Tangi on Thursday night, but caused no casualties, the Aaj news channel reported.
The explosions occurred days after the owners of the businesses received warnings from Taliban-styled radical Islamists to cease trading, calling the sale and renting of movies and music videos un-Islamic.
In another incident, a bomb exploded at the main entrance of a girls' school in the small NWFP town of Gujrat, damaging the main gate, the Geo news channel reported.
The local administration said Islamic extremists had previously warned the staff of several girls' schools to close down educational facilities for girl students.
The NWFP province that buffers the eastern border of Afghanistan has suffered from a creeping radicalisation in recent months. Ideologically affiliated with Taliban in Afghanistan, local groups have begun to enforce a hardline interpretation of Islam.
Also targeted are barbers' shops that shave men - which is also considered un-Islamic - while female teachers and students are increasingly subject to harassment.
Charsadda was also the scene of a recent suicide bombing that killed 29 people and injured Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao. Suspicion has fallen upon tribal militants from the border area.
Extremists blow up 20 video shops in Pakistan
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