PESHAWAR: Cinema owners in the NWFP have refused to comply with the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) government's order to close cinemas during Ramazan, saying that the cinema business would not affect prayers. The cinema owners refused to comply with government orders during a meeting chaired by NWFP Senior Minister Sirajul Haq on Monday. A cinema owner, asking not to be named, told Daily Times that the provincial government had offered to withdraw taxes on cinemas if the owners closed during Ramazan. He said the cinema owners rejected the government's offer saying that movies would not affect prayers. "We told the provincial government that the demand is unnecessary," he said.
Daily Times found most cinemas open on Monday and their schedules displayed prominently. People were seen buying tickets despite a threat of action against moviegoers by MMA MPA Dr Zakir Shah's Amar Bil Maroof Wanahi Anil-Munkar organisation.