Outlawed Lashkar-i-Islam ‘bans’ beard shaving in Tirah

TIRAH: An outlawed militant organisation Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) has imposed a ‘ban’ on shaving beards in some parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah valley.

The militant group has distributed and pasted pamphlets in public places including Bar Bagh Markaz, warning local barbers and residents from shaving and stylish beard cuts.

Pamphlets, issued by LI commander Chamthu Afridi, also stated that action would also be taken against shopkeepers for inflated prices and hoarding during the month of Ramadan.

Local youth were also warned against the use of ice and useless roaming around on their motorcycles.

The pamphlet further advised mobile dealers and computer users to desist from downloading any objectionable material on both their mobiles and computers while also refraining from copying any such material into the memory cards of teenagers or boys.

The pamphlet further called for peaceful Ramadan, urging residents to not indulge in verbal and physical conflicts, with the promise of punishment for those violating the peace.

It also directed locals to report any armed individuals demanding money in the name of Lashkar-i-Islam.

Local residents confirmed that armed activists of LI distributed these pamphlets among them and the shopkeepers while also pasting these at prominent locations in order to inform the maximum number of people.