Karkhano Market is located in a narrow street in Peshawar.
It’s one of the busiest markets in Khyber Puktunkhaw province, famous for selling music cassettes and porn movies.
But recently the Taliban put up a hand-written poster which reads “selling sex drugs, vulgar films and obscene movies are against Sharia”.
And shopkeepers involved in this business are being warned to stop... or face the consequences.
More than 70 shops have closed since the threat was issued.
Most of them have now removed the porn pictures, music cassettes and computers.
37-year-old clothes shop owner Ismaiel Khan, believes that this has improved the situation.
“The street is famous for music and sex drugs," he regrets. "People used to come here from far away. I’m happy that these shops are now closed. The music was too noisy and I couldn’t hear the call to prayer. I’m satisfied now.”
But the demand for pornography is still high says 19-year-old college student Zeeshan Ahmed.
“Students are eager to fill their cellphone cards with porn films. They have beards and look religious, but still... their memory cards are full of porn films and songs. They give us their cards secretly so no one else will know. They are such hypocrites."
"I would say that 80 percent of students here have porn movies.”
And Zakriya Jan has found a way to satisfy his customers.
“I’ve bought an expensive cellphone and I can check and fill other people’s memory cards with music or films. I don’t have to use the computer," he says proudly.
"Everyone is concerned for their security now and they’ve all stopped using the shops.”
With his new business, he can earn up to 40 US dollars for one movie, and can fill up to 80 memory cards a week.
Qismat Khan owns a shop selling viagra-style potency drugs from India and China.
He has kept his shop open for the last two years by paying regular bribes to government officials.
But following the Taliban warning, his profits have reduced dramatically
“I used to earn about 20 US dollars a day. But after the threats, I hardly earn half that amount. Customers have read the posters and it’s affected our business. I’m not afraid of such threats since it’s not the first time. We always receive threats and I’m not afraid of death. It’s my shop and I will continue my business. I have asked religious scholars who say my business is legal.”
And some shops still open up in secret.
But this 18-year-old shopkeeper is not willing to give me his name for security reasons.
“I am afraid to talk. Nobody dares to talk about the Taliban. What if they come here and take us up to the mountains and kill us?”
