PESHAWAR, Oct 21: The city cinema owners have voluntarily decided to close down cinema houses during Ramazan to maintain sanctity of the holy month, officials said.

The decision was made during a meeting held at the residence of senior minister Sirajul Haq here on Tuesday which was attended by the local Muttahida Majlils-i-Amal (MMA) leaders, parliamentarians, town nazims, cinema owners, small traders and cable operators.

The NWFP government has launched a 10-day anti obscenity drive across the province from October 18. During the campaign cinema and video shop owners would be convinced to suspend their business for a month.

Committees, comprising MMA workers, have been constituted to negotiate with the small traders to control prices and close down their shops during prayer time.

Arshed Sabri, representing city’s cinema owners, assured the meeting that they would comply with the government’s decision.

Similarly, the cable operators assured the Muttahida Majlils-i-Amal leaders that they would cooperate with the government and would not telecast objectionable programmes during the holy month.