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Never mind the Taliban – Pakistan’s youth put their faith in rock’n’roll

Country’s internal turmoil is feeding underground music scene and popular guitar school

Declan Walsh in Lahore
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 1 September 2009 22.29 BST
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Guitarist Shehryar Mufti, from the Pakistani rock band Bumbu Sauce, practises with a drummer at a studio in Islamabad. Photograph: Declan Walsh
Guitarist Shehryar Mufti, from the Pakistani rock band Bumbu Sauce, practises with a drummer at a studio in Islamabad. Photograph: Declan Walsh

Wannabe rock stars have it tough in Pakistan. Last month a new band, Poor Rich Boy (and the toothless winos), took to the stage of a cramped Islamabad cafe for their breakthrough gig. On the first night, one person turned up.