Osama Bin Who?

Published May 2, 2011
A resident of Karachi waiting at a bus stop said, ?Are you serious, I had no clue that Osama was found?on top of that, killed.?
A resident of Karachi waiting at a bus stop said, ?Are you serious, I had no clue that Osama was found?on top of that, killed.?
Arsala Qureshi, a fresh graduate from a business school in Karachi said ?I was really confused. It seemed surreal. I don?t think that the war is over, or that terrorism is over just because Osama bin Laden is dead.?
Arsala Qureshi, a fresh graduate from a business school in Karachi said ?I was really confused. It seemed surreal. I don?t think that the war is over, or that terrorism is over just because Osama bin Laden is dead.?
Abdul Amin, a parking facilitator in Karachi said that he had not heard of the news of Bin Laden's death but if it is true then it has both good and bad implications for Pakistan.
Abdul Amin, a parking facilitator in Karachi said that he had not heard of the news of Bin Laden's death but if it is true then it has both good and bad implications for Pakistan.
Nudrat, a resident of Rawalpindi said, ?My servants excitedly told my Aunt about the news of Osama being killed early morning, who heard it as ?Obama has been killed?, who in turn woke me up with a, ?Obama has been killed.? So I tuned into the news channels to discover the so called ?truth?, but frankly I didn?t care and I think the whole thing, the twin towers falling, Mullah Omar, the Afghan war, Iraq, everything is a hoax.?
Nudrat, a resident of Rawalpindi said, ?My servants excitedly told my Aunt about the news of Osama being killed early morning, who heard it as ?Obama has been killed?, who in turn woke me up with a, ?Obama has been killed.? So I tuned into the news channels to discover the so called ?truth?, but frankly I didn?t care and I think the whole thing, the twin towers falling, Mullah Omar, the Afghan war, Iraq, everything is a hoax.?
Muhammad Alam, a police official from Karachi said, ?Osama Bin Who??
Muhammad Alam, a police official from Karachi said, ?Osama Bin Who??
Yasser Kureshi, a Pakistani who is now studying law in Boston says ?[The fact that Osama was] sitting in a compound just two kilometres from Kakul Military Academy just further bolsters all our worst fears regarding the army? I was relieved [on hearing Obama's speech] because if he didn?t mention Pakistan's role I?d see that as a public acknowledgement that Pakistan and the US were on opposing sides of this war?Regarding Osama's death I am pretty convinced, but the build-up to the whole thing is very opaque. How wa
Yasser Kureshi, a Pakistani who is now studying law in Boston says ?[The fact that Osama was] sitting in a compound just two kilometres from Kakul Military Academy just further bolsters all our worst fears regarding the army? I was relieved [on hearing Obama's speech] because if he didn?t mention Pakistan's role I?d see that as a public acknowledgement that Pakistan and the US were on opposing sides of this war?Regarding Osama's death I am pretty convinced, but the build-up to the whole thing is very opaque. How wa
Zawar Ali Muhammad, a police guard on duty in Karachi said that Bin Laden being killed is all a game by agencies that cause misery to the citizens of Pakistan.
Zawar Ali Muhammad, a police guard on duty in Karachi said that Bin Laden being killed is all a game by agencies that cause misery to the citizens of Pakistan.
Mustafa from BMA Funds in Karachi said, ?The reaction of the American public is expected and understandable given that Osama bin Laden was viewed as the figurehead of al Qaeda and held directly responsible for the 9/11 attacks. However I believe that the outpouring of joy is a very immediate and emotional reaction to his death. If it is not followed by a tangible progress on the war then the current euphoria will quickly dissipate. It was also heartening to note that President Obama was quick to acknowledge his Pak
Mustafa from BMA Funds in Karachi said, ?The reaction of the American public is expected and understandable given that Osama bin Laden was viewed as the figurehead of al Qaeda and held directly responsible for the 9/11 attacks. However I believe that the outpouring of joy is a very immediate and emotional reaction to his death. If it is not followed by a tangible progress on the war then the current euphoria will quickly dissipate. It was also heartening to note that President Obama was quick to acknowledge his Pak
Hira Azmat, a senior college student from Lahore says ?If I were American I'd be celebrating. Unfortunately, I'm Pakistani and we're doomed either way? [Osama's death] means nothing in practical terms, but is a potent enough symbol to get Obama re-elected. I realised this will inevitably unleash more violence on Pakistani cities from the misguided looking for vengeance; the children of Osama that we've coddled? [Regarding celebration in the US] It's funny to see self-proclaimed liberals reveling in bloodlust but, g
Hira Azmat, a senior college student from Lahore says ?If I were American I'd be celebrating. Unfortunately, I'm Pakistani and we're doomed either way? [Osama's death] means nothing in practical terms, but is a potent enough symbol to get Obama re-elected. I realised this will inevitably unleash more violence on Pakistani cities from the misguided looking for vengeance; the children of Osama that we've coddled? [Regarding celebration in the US] It's funny to see self-proclaimed liberals reveling in bloodlust but, g
Rehman, a ?Chippa? Ambulance driver in Karachi said that some evidence should have been presented in connection to Bin Laden being killed. He contrasted this news against the video evidence provided of Saddam Hussein's capture. He further stated that the situation in Pakistan and the world would worsen as a hundred more Osama-like-Mujahideens would spring up.
Rehman, a ?Chippa? Ambulance driver in Karachi said that some evidence should have been presented in connection to Bin Laden being killed. He contrasted this news against the video evidence provided of Saddam Hussein's capture. He further stated that the situation in Pakistan and the world would worsen as a hundred more Osama-like-Mujahideens would spring up.
A group of bankers in Karachi stated over lunch, ?The fact that there was no Pakistani official present during Obama's speech announcing Bin Laden being killed is shameful for Pakistan. There should have been a joint press conference along with media officials from Pakistan. On top of that if Osama is really dead then it is kind of disgraceful again that he was found in Abbottabad in Pakistan. If he is alive then that basically doesn?t change anything.?
A group of bankers in Karachi stated over lunch, ?The fact that there was no Pakistani official present during Obama's speech announcing Bin Laden being killed is shameful for Pakistan. There should have been a joint press conference along with media officials from Pakistan. On top of that if Osama is really dead then it is kind of disgraceful again that he was found in Abbottabad in Pakistan. If he is alive then that basically doesn?t change anything.?
Ashraf, an upcoming entrepreneur from Karachi said ?I thought: Who we will blame things on now??
Ashraf, an upcoming entrepreneur from Karachi said ?I thought: Who we will blame things on now??
Shahzeb Atif, a resident of Islamabad said that he had heard about the news and was extremely worried about the situation in the province of Punjab but had not heard any news of fresh tensions arising yet. He said that the ambiguity with what America would do next, and what's next for Pakistan seems extremely nerve-racking.
Shahzeb Atif, a resident of Islamabad said that he had heard about the news and was extremely worried about the situation in the province of Punjab but had not heard any news of fresh tensions arising yet. He said that the ambiguity with what America would do next, and what's next for Pakistan seems extremely nerve-racking.
Sarfaraz Ali, a working Pakistani in the US who went for his higher studies to California, said ?[Osama's death] seems near insignificant at this point, since he was all but invisible in the public eye. What comes to mind is its great timing for Obama's re-election campaign? his speech was tactful and appealed to universal ideals, however lack of credit given to Pakistani intelligence for the whole operation (he mentioned it once) will undermine our credibility? Scenes of people rejoicing here in DC and NY will fur
Sarfaraz Ali, a working Pakistani in the US who went for his higher studies to California, said ?[Osama's death] seems near insignificant at this point, since he was all but invisible in the public eye. What comes to mind is its great timing for Obama's re-election campaign? his speech was tactful and appealed to universal ideals, however lack of credit given to Pakistani intelligence for the whole operation (he mentioned it once) will undermine our credibility? Scenes of people rejoicing here in DC and NY will fur
Farhad Fatakia, Director at Ora-Tech Systems (Pvt) Ltd in Karachi said, ?This is obviously the realisation of one of America's major objectives and a milestone at that. The people of America are celebrating that achievement which is obviously a significant one. Obama's speech did a good job of summing up the thoughts of many of us around the world on what was the elimination of a necessary evil. However I strongly believe Osama Bin Laden's death is more of a milestone than the attainment of some sort of end goal. P
Farhad Fatakia, Director at Ora-Tech Systems (Pvt) Ltd in Karachi said, ?This is obviously the realisation of one of America's major objectives and a milestone at that. The people of America are celebrating that achievement which is obviously a significant one. Obama's speech did a good job of summing up the thoughts of many of us around the world on what was the elimination of a necessary evil. However I strongly believe Osama Bin Laden's death is more of a milestone than the attainment of some sort of end goal. P

What locals and Pakistanis living abroad said when we asked them about you know who! – Interviews by Nadir Siddiqui and Hasaan Haider/Dawn.com. Photos by Dawn.com and Agencies.

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