Suspected Islamists destroy music shops in Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, May 4 (Reuters) Suspected pro-Taliban militants in northwestern Pakistan attacked music shops with explosive devices early today, destroying at least five outlets but causing no casualties, police said.

The militants, who follow an austere interpretation of Islam, often target music shops in the conservative areas of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the adjacent tribal region that snakes along the Afghan border.

The shops were closed when home-made crude devices exploded in the town of Charsadda, around 20 km (12 miles) north of Peshawar, capital of NWFP.

Charsadda is the home town of Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, the scene of a suicide bomb attack on him last week that killed at least 28 people. Sherpao himself suffered minor injuries.

Progressive Pakistanis have become increasingly shocked by the boldness with which religious radicals are now spreading their Taliban-style values in society.

Last month, burqa-clad female students of an Islamic school or madrasa raided a brothel in the capital, Islamabad, and abducted three women for three days. They released the women after making them repent in front of the media.

The top cleric of the mosque linked to the madrasa threatened suicide attacks if the government used force to stop his movement from enforcing Taliban-style social values in the capital.

REUTERS KK KN1628