Mardan (Pakistan), Mar 19 : Hundreds of compact disks (CDs) dealers in Mardan District have been forced to discontinue their business following the militant attacks on various shops in the area.

A mini-survey conducted by ''''''''The News'''''''' revealed that so far over 100 music and CD shops had been blown up in various areas of the district.

The survey found out that six shops were destroyed and 20 damaged near the Punjab Regimental Centre (PRC), 15 shops were blown up in Chato Chowk, 10 destroyed in Mir Afzal Khan Market, 10 at Hoti Chowk, six in Bakhshali, two at Ghari Chowk, nine on Gaju Khan Road in the City Police Station limits, 25 shops were blown up at Takhtbhai bazaar and five were recently bombed in Sherghar.

Explaining the atmosphere of fear prevailing in the markets, PRC Audio-Video Market President Haider Khan said, "Actually we informed the police after receiving threats from unidentified people to close down the business, but the police did not take any action."

He revealed that homemade bombs were planted near the market, destroying six shops and causing damage to 17 others.

Fearing the Taliban rebels, who term this business as ''''''''un-Islamic'''''''' the entire market dealing in CD''''''''s has switched over to other enterprises such as mobile phone centres.

A local shopkeeper Sardar Ali said: "My shop was completely destroyed in the blast in which, I lost my car and cash. Though the district authorities assured the shopkeepers to make foolproof security arrangements, we had no option but to change the signboard of our shops from Ghazal video to Ghazal mobile centre."

Apart from Mardan, terror activities in Peshawar, Malakand, Charsadda, Karak, Batkhela, Mingora and other big cities of the province has led to shut-down of millions of rupees worth of business. (ANI)