Adil Najam
I had first thought of making this another ATP photo-quiz but given previous ATP blogposts, it would have been too easy. So, no mystery this time. Just surprise!
Yes, this is Lyari, Karachi. Where identity and pride of identity cannot be separated from football. They may not have much under their roofs, but on top of the roof they fly with pride the emblem of team they identify with. This is an entirely merit-based sense of identity. They identify with the game, with the skills, with the style, and above all with the passion. Hence, the flags you see. And do not see! Ronaldo, in case you are listening: this may be your biggest fan anywhere in the world!
Thanks to Adnan Siddiqi’s blog, from where I picked up these pictures; he got them from Jang Online Urdu Edition.
I am from Liyari, but don’t know much of its history,because things haven’t really changed in last 20 years there, but let me quote what the great leaders of PPP had to say about Liari.
Z A Bhutto …”Lyari wahlay meray ladlay hain”
Benazir Bhutto…”Liari Pakistan kah Paris banaygah”
[…] According to reports in Aaj TV news and The Nation, legendary football superstar Zinedine Zidane – perhaps the greatest player of modern football – will be visiting Pakistan in March this year. […]
In my rather short career as a human rights activist actually active inside Pakistan, what impressed me most was the community work going on there, which included things that were unheard of in the “better” neighbourhoods of Karachi, like community libraries!
Well thanks for mentioning my blog:)
Brazil and Argentina certainly rock when it comes to football. In some ways, Lyari has some other features as well that it shares with the latin American countries. Next to the other better-endowed districts of Karachi, Lyari exists in poverty a bit like the Latin American countries next to the rich and all-consuming US of A. Brazil’s socialistic inclinations (at least in health care, for example) despite pressures from its mighty neighbor also reminds me of the proudly independent traditions I remember of Lyariites. For example, while all of Karchi voted for MQM (almost in a block vote), Lyari stood its ground and voted for PPP (too bad the party never really rewarded them for their support). Would love to learn the history behind Lyari support for the Bhuttos. Anyways…great photos!