LANDI KOTAL, Aug 13: The dealers of cellular phones and computers in Landi Kotal Bazaar of Khyber Agency shut down their business outlets on Monday after receiving threats from Taliban.
A pamphlet, bearing insignia of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and signature of its chief Hakimullah Mehsud, was pasted on most of the cellular phone and computer shops at Insaf Market, warning the traders to quit the business.
The pamphlet, written in Urdu, said that money earned through downloading obscene videos and musical ring tones at cellular phones was forbidden in Islam and those, who indulged in such immoral and un-Islamic business, were liable to be punished.
“This is the last warning to all dealers and the market owners to quit such un-Islamic business,” warned the pamphlet, adding that stern action would be taken against those, who refused to adhere to the warning. “We will kill the shopkeepers, owners of the market and would also target their houses as they are not doing any service to their Muslim brothers and sisters,” the pamphlet threatened.
Local officials confirmed authenticity of the pamphlet and said that they would take measures for protection of traders. Shopkeepers, however, said that no additional security was provided to them and several of them were compelled to shut down their shops owing to insecurity.
Militants had targeted the same market on January 3, destroying several shops after issuing a similar threat to the cellular phone and computer dealers and the market owners.
Meanwhile, a woman was injured critically when a mortar shell hit a house in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency on Sunday night.
Sources said that wife of Zar Jamal was asleep in the courtyard of her house in Meelwat area of Akkakhel when a stray mortar fell on the house, injuring her critically. A room of the house and an adjacent tubewell were also damaged partially, they added.
