PESHAWAR, Jan 1: Thousands of pornographic cassettes and CDs, Indian movies and sex-related drugs were set on fire at Jinnah Park on Wednesday.

The police had asked the shop owners to surrender the objectionable movies. Inspector-general of police, Mohammad Saeed Khan, and other officials lit the surrendered items, including films and viagra.

Some Pakistani singers’ videocassettes and CDs and homeopathic sex stimulants were also burnt in the ceremony watched by more than a hundred people.

Talking to newsmen, IGP Saeed Khan said the government wanted to save the youth from indulging in immoral activities and utilise their energies in nation-building.

He said the major reason of increasing crime was the involvement of youth in anti-social activities and most of the carjackers were aged 15 to 30 years.

Replying to a question, the IG said that despite introduction of police reforms, some departments, which would work as watchdog on police performance were not established. When the district safety commissions, provincial safety commission, national public safety  commission and police complaint authority were formed, the performance of police would improve, he said.

He said the drive against obscenity would continue.

“We are getting a good response in other districts, where many videocassettes and CDs shop owners have surrendered the porno movies voluntarily,” he said.

He hinted at action against porno video cassettes and CDs at Bara market soon.

Capital City Police chief Imtiaz Sipra said the cooperation of shop owners was beyond his expectations.