Abbottabad after bin Laden

Following up developments in Abbottabad, Pakistan after Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed in a US commando raid at his compound in Bilal Town on the night of May 2. I was in the city from May 8-12. Spent most of the time in the neighbourhood, talking to neighbours and officials, but there were as many versions as mouths. Police and soldiers were harsh on journalists and photographers, not allowing them to take photographs of the condemned compound. Media teams were perched around the site since May 2.

Looking at the compound and its surroundings, it stands out from other houses. It is too conspicuous by its size, towering walls laced with barbed wires. It is strange to hear the neighbours say they did not anything suspicious.

The residents are telling different stories. Some are cursing media presence and blaming for all the problems Pakistan is facing, others want to be in front of television camera.
 

Army is too parnoid with keeping away the journalists from the compound and soldiers are routinely pushing and sometimes chasing photo and videographers. I have seen dvs being confiscated. Come on duffer army officers guarding the compound, the poor cameras and pens of reporters are not going to harm the building. Some people argue with soldiers and exchange hot words like "Why you are stopping us when you could not stop Americans coming here with their helicopters and violating our sovereignty. You soldiers are not able to defend Pakistan. You are the most incompetent lot" and many swears as well.

Some residents are hospitable to media. One of the guy treated us with very nice tea. As there is no tea stall in the vicinity and we cannot move away from the site from dawn to dusk, it was so refreshing and a nice gesture.

 

Now after one week, locals have become used of media and exchange wishes. Many residents say that this compound now should be demolished because it had become a stigma on the neighbourhood. Munni badnam hui Osama darling teray liyay :-)

 

 

 

 

A pair of baby rabbits, neighbours cliamed came from bin Laden's house.