Pakistan demolishes bin Laden's compound
Source: Agencies |
February 27, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PAKISTAN pushed ahead yesterday with its surprise demolition of the compound where US commandos killed Osama bin Laden last year.
Heavy machines began tearing down bin Laden's three-story compound on Saturday night under heavy security without the government providing advance notice. By yesterday evening, workers had destroyed around three-quarters of the large concrete compound and its tall boundary walls. They were clearing debris in large trucks so they could finish the job, according to an Associated Press reporter who managed to get close to the site.
Large numbers of police still surrounded the compound yesterday to keep spectators and journalists away, but the army soldiers present the previous night had departed.
Local residents expressed mixed feelings about the demolition, with some applauding the move and others saying the government should have put the building to public use.
Shabbir Ahmed, a 22-year-old college student in Abbottabad, said the presence of the compound sparked bad memories and made the lives of local residents more difficult.
"We were searched and questioned every time we wanted to reach our homes," Ahmed said. "When this symbol of evil is finally gone, people in the area will be able to rest."
But retiree Mohammad Sarwar, 60, said razing the compound didn't make sense and was a waste of money.
"I don't know what benefit the government will get by its demolition instead of using it for some official or public purpose, like establishing a school, library or laboratory," he said.
Heavy machines began tearing down bin Laden's three-story compound on Saturday night under heavy security without the government providing advance notice. By yesterday evening, workers had destroyed around three-quarters of the large concrete compound and its tall boundary walls. They were clearing debris in large trucks so they could finish the job, according to an Associated Press reporter who managed to get close to the site.
Large numbers of police still surrounded the compound yesterday to keep spectators and journalists away, but the army soldiers present the previous night had departed.
Local residents expressed mixed feelings about the demolition, with some applauding the move and others saying the government should have put the building to public use.
Shabbir Ahmed, a 22-year-old college student in Abbottabad, said the presence of the compound sparked bad memories and made the lives of local residents more difficult.
"We were searched and questioned every time we wanted to reach our homes," Ahmed said. "When this symbol of evil is finally gone, people in the area will be able to rest."
But retiree Mohammad Sarwar, 60, said razing the compound didn't make sense and was a waste of money.
"I don't know what benefit the government will get by its demolition instead of using it for some official or public purpose, like establishing a school, library or laboratory," he said.
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