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Pakistan's dancing girls return after Taliban defeated in Swat Valley
Pakistan's celebrated dancing girls returned to the city of Mingora to join thousands of revellers celebrating the defeat of Taliban militants in Swat Valley.
More than 1,000 women from the city's famous Banr Bazaar fled earlier this year after their teacher Shabbana was murdered by militants after a performance at her home. Her bullet-ridden body was later found dumped in the city's main square covered in bank notes and CDs of her music.
One of Swat's Taliban leaders later broadcast a radio message saying the girls would be killed one by one if they did not stop their "immoral shows".
Most of the women immediate posted signs saying they would no longer dance before leaving for Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi. Their flight was followed thousands of refugees after the Pakistan Army launched an offensive to break the Taliban's control of the valley.
Last night thousands of those who have returned since the army declared victory took to the streets to celebrate Pakistan's Independence Day and what they hope is an end of Taliban terror.
Among them was 18 year old Seema, who had recently arrived from a refugee camp at Mardan. She had been a pupil of Shabbana, and had fled to Karachi after her body was found in the square.
Before she fled she was earning up to £400 per performance, and said while many of the girls and their families remained scared the Taliban would return, last night's public celebrations had given her hope that her customers would return.
She said half the dancing girls had now returned as the city heard music on the streets for the first time since the army ousted the Taliban earlier this summer.
As revellers chanted "death to the Taliban", Afzal Khan, 50, said: "We've three reasons to celebrate. We have got rid of Taliban. We have returned to our area, and it's our Independence Day."
Pakistan's celebrated dancing girls returned to the city of Mingora to join thousands of revellers celebrating the defeat of Taliban militants in Swat Valley.
More than 1,000 women from the city's famous Banr Bazaar fled earlier this year after their teacher Shabbana was murdered by militants after a performance at her home. Her bullet-ridden body was later found dumped in the city's main square covered in bank notes and CDs of her music.
One of Swat's Taliban leaders later broadcast a radio message saying the girls would be killed one by one if they did not stop their "immoral shows".
Most of the women immediate posted signs saying they would no longer dance before leaving for Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi. Their flight was followed thousands of refugees after the Pakistan Army launched an offensive to break the Taliban's control of the valley.
Last night thousands of those who have returned since the army declared victory took to the streets to celebrate Pakistan's Independence Day and what they hope is an end of Taliban terror.
Among them was 18 year old Seema, who had recently arrived from a refugee camp at Mardan. She had been a pupil of Shabbana, and had fled to Karachi after her body was found in the square.
Before she fled she was earning up to £400 per performance, and said while many of the girls and their families remained scared the Taliban would return, last night's public celebrations had given her hope that her customers would return.
She said half the dancing girls had now returned as the city heard music on the streets for the first time since the army ousted the Taliban earlier this summer.
As revellers chanted "death to the Taliban", Afzal Khan, 50, said: "We've three reasons to celebrate. We have got rid of Taliban. We have returned to our area, and it's our Independence Day."
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