Osama Bin Laden's Pakistan Compound Could Become Kids' Playground
- Thread starter Dzz
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ISLAMABAD — The compound where Osama bin Laden was hiding when Navy SEALs found and killed him five years ago looks set to become a children's playground, according to a local official.
Or maybe a graveyard.
The site in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where the al Qaeda founder and 9/11 mastermind spent his last years has now become the center of a turf war.
Workers mark the edges of the patch of ground where al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on July 23. AQEEL AHMED / AFP - Getty Images
On one side sits the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — which is trying to get the playground built — and on the other the local administration.
"When OBL was killed, nobody went near the place and nobody claimed its ownership," Omar Farooq, deputy director of the local Cantonment Administration in Rawalpindi, said on Tuesday.
"According to the law, we took charge. And were then instructed to demolish the property," he told NBC News.
FROM MAY 2, 2011: U.S. Forces Hunt Down, Kill Osama Bin Laden 4:54
The Cantonment took possession of the 37,996-square-foot site after bin Laden was killed and his family captured on May 2, 2011. The house was razed, and now the plot sits largely unused — although it occasionally becomes a makeshift cricket pitch or a kite-flying field for local children.
Nothing happened for years, according to Farooq, who said the former compound "remained a flat piece of land, with no traces of bin Laden's house."
Related: Bin Laden Documents Detail His Daily Life
So Cantonment authorities decided to build a graveyard because there is a shortage of them in the area. But provincial officials want a children's playground, and say they are the rightful authority, according to The Business Recorder, a local newspaper.
Senior officials from the Abbottabad district government could not be reached for comment.
Until the property's fate is decided it will remain a barren piece of land and occasional tourist attraction.
"Listen, ultimately, both ideas are meant to service the public," said Farooq. "A playground or a graveyard — both are public amenities."
FROM MARCH 1, 2016: Inside The Trove of Documents from the bin Laden Raid 0:28
Or maybe a graveyard.
The site in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where the al Qaeda founder and 9/11 mastermind spent his last years has now become the center of a turf war.
Workers mark the edges of the patch of ground where al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on July 23. AQEEL AHMED / AFP - Getty Images
On one side sits the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — which is trying to get the playground built — and on the other the local administration.
"When OBL was killed, nobody went near the place and nobody claimed its ownership," Omar Farooq, deputy director of the local Cantonment Administration in Rawalpindi, said on Tuesday.
"According to the law, we took charge. And were then instructed to demolish the property," he told NBC News.
FROM MAY 2, 2011: U.S. Forces Hunt Down, Kill Osama Bin Laden 4:54
The Cantonment took possession of the 37,996-square-foot site after bin Laden was killed and his family captured on May 2, 2011. The house was razed, and now the plot sits largely unused — although it occasionally becomes a makeshift cricket pitch or a kite-flying field for local children.
Nothing happened for years, according to Farooq, who said the former compound "remained a flat piece of land, with no traces of bin Laden's house."
Related: Bin Laden Documents Detail His Daily Life
So Cantonment authorities decided to build a graveyard because there is a shortage of them in the area. But provincial officials want a children's playground, and say they are the rightful authority, according to The Business Recorder, a local newspaper.
Senior officials from the Abbottabad district government could not be reached for comment.
Until the property's fate is decided it will remain a barren piece of land and occasional tourist attraction.
"Listen, ultimately, both ideas are meant to service the public," said Farooq. "A playground or a graveyard — both are public amenities."
FROM MARCH 1, 2016: Inside The Trove of Documents from the bin Laden Raid 0:28
capturing osama there wasn't proof enough ?
@RV
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Then who was living there?
Who owns that property?
Why that doctor who took blood samples was arrested?
pak-marine
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i propose construction of a new concept "world denial land "
Spring Onion
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well it is Khyber Pukhtunkhwa territory so why Rawalpindi Administration wants to occupy provincial land in the first place.few days back I visited that area and the land is indeed left unattended. The sooner the government of KpK takes it up either for construction of a school or a playground it would be good.
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We should convert that land into MUSEUM.....that will earn some penny for local residents of Abbottabad, Adventure oriented foreign visitors from outside world will flock to Abbottabad to preserve every odd moment they want to enjoy
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Think about .....MONEY.....MONEY.....$$$$
.
The World is not interested in buying our version of History..."Osama is not living here" ...its all BS.
.
Think about poor people of the City why our Gov is letting them deprived of that Opportunity.....take Cash from foreign visitors and let them visit here
Paisa Ghar ma aiiii ga, tu Demagh bhi achaa kam karay ga
.
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Instead ! we should propagate some false local news about Osama Soul is wandering here.....a few days back Osama soul has taken the life of one visitor
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Spread these false RUMOURS....and see huge jump in REVENUE....INSHALLAH
.
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Millions of stupid Tourists flock to watch... the masterpiece artwork of MONA-LISA....which they saw thousands of times on the Internet....but why they visit the place.....??? to quell the thirst of CURIOSITY.
.
Remember it.
Curiosity can Kill a Cat.
.
Think about .....MONEY.....MONEY.....$$$$
.
The World is not interested in buying our version of History..."Osama is not living here" ...its all BS.
.
Think about poor people of the City why our Gov is letting them deprived of that Opportunity.....take Cash from foreign visitors and let them visit here
Paisa Ghar ma aiiii ga, tu Demagh bhi achaa kam karay ga
.
.
Instead ! we should propagate some false local news about Osama Soul is wandering here.....a few days back Osama soul has taken the life of one visitor
.
Spread these false RUMOURS....and see huge jump in REVENUE....INSHALLAH
.
.
Millions of stupid Tourists flock to watch... the masterpiece artwork of MONA-LISA....which they saw thousands of times on the Internet....but why they visit the place.....??? to quell the thirst of CURIOSITY.
.
Remember it.
Curiosity can Kill a Cat.
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is this some kind of intentional bait or are you a tinfoil hat conspiracy theorist . even a toddler will tell you how OSAMA BIN LADIN was captured .
M.SAAD
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Please tell me how he was 'Captured' lol..
and provide some evidence too..
It was just a planned 'Drama' for Obama to gain some votes before the Elections..
OBL died a natural death in Afghanistan years ago..
kek why are you looking for loopholes , captured ,executed ,died in cross fire. its irrelevant , fact remains he was in that fancy building with his family next to Pakistani military academy .
Your military chief could have come out and said that the day after the raid was announced to the whole world
Pics of what ? you literally have a American helicopter crash landed in Pakistan during the operation . They were there to execute a international terrorist protected by Pakistan , not to get a family photo with Osama.
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