KHOST CITY (SW) – There is a growing trend of many local singers encouraging the youth towards drug addiction and ‘bacha bazi’ through their music.
Locals in Khost have raised voice against such singers, and are demanding the government to take stern measures to stop this practice. However, many local singers claim they have been forced to sing such songs by influential figures.
Master Chenewal and Syedullah Gurez, two such singers, told Salam Watandar the negative impacts of such tempting songs are clear, but they are often forced on gunpoint to sing such songs. They lamented the government has failed to ensure their economic and social security due to which they are on the mercy of such powerful people.
Gul Rauf Shoqi, head of singers association in Khost, said in this regard not all songs are encouraging these negative trends. He went on to claim the poetic references to alcohol and other addictions do not literally mean these thing.
However, Najiur Rehman Hamdard, head of the directorate of anti-narcotics, informed the locals have lodged multiple complaints against singers for promoting negative trends in the society. He suggested the government should set a criteria and issue license for singing to those who qualify.
Defending the singers, Mohammad Ameen Shah, head of the directorate of information and culture, argued the artists have their own set of economic problems. He said the suggestions for their training and licensing would be share with the top officials in Kabul.
ENDS
