Growing incidents of terrorism and failure of the government to overcome the situation have caused damaged cultural activities across the country, particularly in Multan. In normal days, one can witness dozens of drum beaters on the roads of Multan, who provide traditional entertainment to the masses, but the growing incidents of terrorism have compelled them to go back to their homes.
Majority of the drum beaters belong to Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Shah Jevna (Jhang) and come here to earn a living, but nowadays, they are highly frustrated, as their means of earning have almost ended. 'The current situation of our business has left us in extremely bad conditions,' remarked some drum beaters at Ghanta Ghar Chowk.
'Due to insecurity and the law and order situation, our activities have almost ended and we are planning to go back to our native areas,' said Khuda Bakhsh, a drum beater waiting for customers at Hussain Agahi.
'I bought a cell phone yesterday but today I am going to sell it, as I have not enough money to go back to my village,' remarked Waddo Mirasi adding that he was planning to go back home after the completion of the Barri Imam festival but unfortunately, the recent incidents of terrorism and law and order situation have forced the authorities to cancel the annual festival.
'I hoped that after performing ziarat of shrines of Hazrat Bahauddin Zikiriya Suharwardi, Shah Ruk-i-Alam, Hazrat Shah Shams, Hazrat Musa Pak , he would manage to earn sufficient money, but the suicidal attacks has resulted in the failure of any such hope. 'In the past, we managed to earn Rs 10,000-15,000 during the Bahauddin Zikiriya festival, but this year, we could not earn more than 2000, a drum beater Wahid Bakhsh said. Criticising the government, he said, not only Taliban, but the policies of the government are equally responsible for the current chaos in the country.