October 9, 2001	Tuesday	Rajab 21, 1422

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MINGORA, Oct 8: Following the military attacks by the allied forces on Afghanistan all the foreign tourists have left the Swat valley for the federal capital.

The hoteliers here told this correspondent that a number of scheduled programmes, meetings were cancelled and the tourists, mainly the foreigners left Swat for Islamabad.

The hoteliers were complaining of suffering of their business due to the unfavourable situation aroused after the Sept 11 incidents occurred in the US.

The people here of the opinion that if the situation remained so it would badly affect their business.

SCHOOLS CLOSED: All educational institutions have been closed for an indefinite period in the Malakand division and the concerned officials have been asked to maintain the law and order situation in their respective areas.

The institutions were closed soon after the attack on Afghanistan by the forces of the US and UK. It was observed that in protest demonstrations held against the USA so far, majorities of the protestors were students of different schools, colleges and religious madressahs.

It may be mentioned here that students from different schools have left for Afghanistan to help the Taliban against the allied forces.

PROTEST DEMO: The protest demonstrations were staged across the Swat and Shangla districts and the people expressed their deep shock over the military attacks on Afghanistan.

In Mingora, the people belonging to different religious groups gathered at Nishat chowk and raised anti-America slogans for attacking Taliban.

The speakers said it was a war against Islam and all the Muslims should unite to fight the non-Muslims.

They said that the attack was illogical, as no solid proof had been produced against the Arab dissident Osama bin Laden about his involvement in the Sept 11 incidents occurred in America.

The people also criticized the President Gen Pervez Musharraf for, what they said, inclination towards the Americans and asked him to fulfil his religious obligations. The speakers asked the Ummah to sever ties with the non-Muslims, especially with the USA. The processions were also taken out in Puran, Alpuri, Matta and Khwazakhela.