Pamphlets warning barber shop owners against styling
customers' beards in 'un-Islamic' designs have been distributed across
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Mansehra district, it emerged on Thursday.
The pamphlets, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, have been issued by a group called the International Khatm-i-Nabuwat Movement (IKNM).
The
group has warned barbers to refrain from styling beards in styles such
as the 'French' or 'L' cuts, arguing that "desecrating beards" in such a
way is an un-Islamic practice, local barber shop owners confirmed.
The shop of any hairdresser found violating the directive will be vacated on a 15-day notice, the pamphlets warn.
According
to reports, a local barber’s shop was attacked by a mob over the
violation of this code a month ago. He later settled the matter with
local activists of the IKNM.
Most shop owners have since stopped styling beards in 'fancy' designs. A barber shop owner told Dawn.com that two shops have already been shuttered over the alleged violation of the IKNM's directives.
IKNM
Hazara division President Qari Wasiur Rehman confirmed that pamphlets
were distributed by their organisation in various parts of Mansehra
district.
Rehman claimed that the code was being
implemented initially in Mansehra and will later be enforced throughout
the province and then the entire country.
He warned that
those violating the directive will themselves be responsible for the
"consequences", which include the closure of their businesses in the
area. He claimed no government official or police department was
creating hurdles in this "mission" of the group.
The
district administration denied that any such order was in rotation in
Mansehra. It also would not comment on the matter any further.
