FOR the foreseeable future, the curtains have come down on Peshawar’s cinemas in the wake of two deadly attacks targeting movie theatres in the KP capital. While the banned TTP may have officially denied involvement in the attacks, it is highly likely individuals influenced by the militants’ ideology were involved in the incidents, zeroing in on ‘immoral’ targets. Cinema owners say they’ll keep the movie houses closed as police are unable to provide adequate security. The KP police authorities, on their part, say they have their hands full tackling militancy and don’t have men to spare to guard cinemas. While fear of militant attacks had already reduced the number of cinemagoers, the indefinite closure of movie houses could spell the end of cinema business in Peshawar. This would be a resounding victory for the extremists and their war on culture — all sorts of entertainment businesses, including CD shops and music stores, are under threat. If the cinema industry were to permanently pack up, it would embolden the militants to take their crusade one step forward and clamp down on all entertainment activities.

The state’s response has been minimal in reassuring the cinema owners that their establishments will be protected. This needs to change, for while the law enforcers in KP are indeed on the front line, efforts need to be made to protect vulnerable targets that are particularly in the terrorists’ crosshairs. Having said that, cinema owners must also chalk out plans to improve security at their establishments and plug the loopholes. It is clear that if Peshawar’s movie theatres don’t reopen soon, it will send the message that a few grenades can shut down the entire cinema industry. Today it is cinemas; tomorrow it can be shopping centres, restaurants or other public places the militants assume are dens of ‘immorality’. And there is no guarantee the extremists’ campaign will remain limited to a specific geographical area. Caving in would be a complete admission of defeat on the cultural front.

DAWN

PESHAWAR: Owners on Thursday closed all cinemas in the provincial capital indefinitely over threats of terrorist attacks.

The development comes in the wake of the bombings of two local cinemas, including Picture House near Qissa Khwani and Shama Cinema on Pejagi Road this month, which left at least 18 people dead.

“We have closed the cinema for indefinite period as police have refused to provide us with security. There are threats of terrorist attacks. The best way to handle the situation is to close cinemas close,” manager of a cinema told Dawn.

He said managements of local cinemas had time and again requested police to provide them with security, but to no avail.

“Police never took our request seriously.

The manager said cinemas had private guards, who checked visitors at entrance, but they didn’t have walkthrough gates and detectors for explosives.

“It is impossible for us to adopt expensive security measures on our own for low revenue. There was a time when we had full day and night shows daily but these days, the number has reduced to one or two as the people don’t come even close to cinemas,” he said.

When contacted, Peshawar SSP (Operations) Najeebur Rehman said police had time and again asked owners of cinemas to adopt ‘reasonable’ security measures, appoint young and energetic guards, and install closed circuit television cameras and walkthrough gates on the premises, but to no avail.

“We cannot deploy police at every cinema and shop as we despite being understaffed are fighting militancy and have to cover the areas bordering Khyber Agency,” he said.

The SSP said after the promulgation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Restriction of Rented Buildings (Security) Ordinance and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hotels Restriction (Security) Ordinance, police would ensure the checking of suspected people in buildings.Meanwhile, during a visit to different cinemas in the city on Thursday, Dawn observed that the places were deserted and that the huge panaflex boards with names of different movies were either removed, covered or folded.

The main gates were locked with private guards from behind them asking visitors that cinemas were closed for indefinite period.

Security arrangements there were found to be unsatisfactory causing fears that terrorists could target them without difficulty.

Owners of the cinemas were not available for comments on the situation.

DAWN