KHYBER: Few local clerics and some tribesmen held a protest demonstration in Akkakhel area of Bara on Thursday against music concerts at weddings and other celebrations.

Holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans in support of their demands, the protesters asked police and district administration to impose a ban on such ‘immoral’ activities.

Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Shaukat Darwesh said that increasing number of such music parties were spreading obscenity in the society while the young generation was drifting away from religious and social values.

He said that such activities, which he termed as both un-Islamic and against the tribal culture, were causing social evils and degenerating the character of tribal youth.

Maulana Shaukat alleged that liquor and other drugs were also openly used at the parties on such occasions that was a taboo in the tribal society. He accused Bara police of patronising such illegal and un-Islamic activities. He said that they would hold more demonstrations if police failed to stop such events within one week.

Meanwhile, the provincial coordinator of United Nations Development Programme held a meeting with officials of social welfare department and members of various political parties and civil society organisations at Bara Press Club to devise a mechanism for arranging soft activities for local youth and carrying out different development projects in Bara.

The participants of the meeting agreed to arrange on-line training in e-commerce and online earning opportunities for local youth alongside organising sporting activities at Shahid Afridi Sports Complex, Sama Garhai, Mandai Kas, Speen Qabar, Gandaw, Speen Dhand and Shalobar grounds to engage local players in healthy activities.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2023