MANSEHRA, Oct 19: The Bisham Barbers Association, in a move to encourage growing beard, has decided not to shave any person and if any member of the barbers’ community violates the decision he will be fined Rs20,000 and his shop would be sealed for six months.

The decision, taken at a meeting of the association held at the Jamia Masjid Bilal, Bisham, is also learnt to have full backing of the local police.

The meeting, among others, was attended by Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) local leader Qari Mushtaq Ahmad and the office-bearers of the association.

The association has also constituted a committee comprising people from all spheres of life for mustering the support of the masses for its initiative.

However, the move, according to sources, has sparked a controversy in Bisham, the scenic mountainous area.

A section of the people in the area are vehemently opposing the move, terming it a conspiracy to obstruct the process of enforcement of the Shariat in the province.

They are of the view that banning the playing of tape recorders in public and private transport by the MMA in the NWFP has already come under fire in the international media and the move by the barbers’ community of Bisham will further malign it.

The protagonists, however, are welcoming the move stressing that the implementation of the decision should be ensured as growing a beard is a Sunnat of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and a religious obligation of every Muslim.

Bisham has traditionally been under the strong influence of the banned Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi.