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Rename Gaddafi Stadium, urges Libya’s ruling NTC
Ministry of foreign affairs waiting for official request from elected Libyan govt, say sources.
Ministry of foreign affairs waiting for official request from elected Libyan govt, say sources. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD: In the wake of an uprising in Libya followed by former dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s exit, Pakistan is now in an awkward position of being stuck with a whole cricket stadium named after the tyrant.
This uncomfortable fact hasn’t escaped the ruling Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC), which has unofficially asked Pakistan to rename the famous cricket ground, an official source said.
The message was conveyed to the Pakistani embassy in Tripoli after the NTC adopted a law declaring the glorification of the former Libyan dictator and his family members a punishable offence in May this year.
The ministry of foreign affairs, however, remains undecided on the issue; perhaps waiting for an official demand from the Libyan government that will take over after nationwide elections on July 7, 2012. A foreign office source said the idea is that the new name for Gaddafi Stadium should be suggested by the Libyan government itself.
“By doing so, we will give a friendly message to the Libyan people and the government,” he explained. Another official argued that changing the name of the stadium arbitrarily “will not convey a positive message as a decision taken under compulsion will have no healthy effect on our diplomatic ties with Libya.”
While some are of the opinion that the Punjab government should take a decision on the matter after consultation with the foreign ministry, some others in the ministry believe the name shouldn’t be scrapped at all. Pertinently, the very law that prohibited the glorification of Gaddafi was recently scrapped by Libya’s Supreme Court after opponents said it was a violation of freedom of expression. Another argument on the issue is that the government of Punjab should take a decision on the matter but with the prior consultation of the ministry of foreign affairs.
The Lahore Stadium, the largest cricket stadium in the country with a capacity of 60,000 spectators, was renamed in honour of Gaddafi as a token of respect after a speech made by the dictator at the second summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Lahore when he vehemently supported Pakistan’s right to pursue nuclear weapons.
The Pakistan Cricket Board, with its headquarters located in the stadium, decided to rename the stadium after the Libyan dictator was killed. For reasons unknown, however, this never happened.
The Punjab Olympic Association also reportedly made a similar attempt and requested Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to rename the stadium.
The request was not taken up by the provincial government, which reportedly prefers to continue with the present name.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2012.
Reader Comments (39)
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Can we try to figure it out that why was it named in the first place? We only find tyrants like Ghadaffi. Why not Bulleh Shah, Shah Farid, etc?
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NTC puppets should worry about their citizens first. Libyan citizens were the most well-off of all african nations in Gaddafi’s era. Can the NTC match that?
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What does libya has to do with cricket? Gaddafi stadium should be named lahore cricket ground as it is the usual practice all over the world. We should stop naming stadiums, air ports buildings on the names of tyrants, dictators and politicians dead or alive.
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How about renaming it to “Bouazizi Stadium” after the Tunisian street vendor whose self-immolation sparked the Arab Spring which led to the overthrow of Gaddafi.
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Even Afghans will eventually request Pak not name it’s missiles after it’s people.
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we should keep it as it is. it has a historic significance and importance in cricketing history. lets not start afresh, but live with it. A new name will start a new (political)debate, and who wants another “benazir” name anyways..Recommend
@Raza Khan: I suppose if ZUlfiqar Ali Bhutto was still alive he might be able to answer that question.
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I don’t know what was the reason that time to give name “Gaddafi Stadium”. How many Pakistani Leaders get this HONOUR.
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@YASin: what does arab spring has to do with cricket or Pakistan? What change/affect has it brought to Pakistan? Stop associating with the arabs create your own identity. Its in Lahore, Lahore is an important historical and cultural city of Pakistan. Name it Lahore Cricket Ground end of story.
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@Yuri nice joke, don’t be afraid these missiles are named so and so to scare specific set of ppl only and as per your name you are not one of them.
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Seriously 60k capacity??? It has sitting capacity of max 35k…I hope u r not asking pepl to sit on roofs!
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Tyrant ? who is E.T to call him as tyrant ?
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We should name the stadium as Raja Rental Stadium
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why did we have to name it after Gaddafi in the first place, what has he done for Pakistan or Pakistan cricket.
Why does Pakistan like renaming every thing after famous people, why can’t they give the stadium a cool name.
Every time a new airport,hospital,stadium is built we name it after a famous person, we’re like the only country that does that.
The Government even renamed cities like Fasialabad and Nawabshah.
Stop ruining names.
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Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Cricket Stadium Lahore as every place is named after the former PM by the current government.
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PLEASE! Do not rename it to Benazir Bhutto stadium.
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Edhi Cricket Stadium… Abdul Qadeer Khan Stadium… Noor Jahan Stadium
Mehndi Hassan Stadium… Moin Akhtar Stadium
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Zardari stadium..best choice.
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Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) Cricket Stadium Lahore.
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@ahmed:
For example, I understand Ghauri and Ghaznvi are Turkic-Afghans who predominantly harassed/subjugated ancestors of the people of present day Pakistan. So, which specific set of people are you trying to scare? Didn’t Pakistan produce any native heroes whose names could scare these specific set of people?
What’s more confusing is that Ghurids and Ghaznavids are bitter enemies of each other. Hope one missile doesn’t scare the other!!
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I like the idea of Edhi Cricket Stadium
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Everyone is jumping without knowing the real reason behing naming this after Gaddafi! It was because he provided the seed money required to kick start Pakistan nuclear program on request from Zulfiqar Bhutto. While world commuinty may think otherwise, many Pakistanis still think Qaddafi as friend to Pakistan.
So Pakistan is in bit of confusion here, they shouldnt have start naming cities and places after their friends. If they have done it, I think they should keep it.
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veena cricket stadium
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we should not renamed it as Gaddafi was great national leader for Libya and he stand against capitalistic countries.
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How about just the Lahore Cricket Ground. If people insist on naming it after someone, no one deserves it more than Pakistan’s greatest cricketer and captain…Imran Khan.
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well, after the brutal assassination of Mr. Gaddafi I think we should wait for the free and fair election in Libya and see if the new elected govt request the same than we should think of changing the name. The new name if required should be Lahore Cricket Stadium based on the location.
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Wasn’t the stadiums name already changed to Nusrat Bhutto Stadium?
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The real shame is that someone has to ask you to rename the stadium — the term “clueless” comes to mind.
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Mr. Gaddhafi although not an angel but his achievements surpasses any Muslim leader today. His achievements are:
Part of profit from oil sales goes into citizens bank account
Free electricity
Free water, greatest man made river was made in Libya
Education free from Kindergarten to High School
University student in varsity only pay 9$ annually
Petrol costs 75 cents
Toward Pan African economic, financial and political independence
Rascom project to have African satellite and communication independence with 75% funding from Libya
Planning for African Monetary Fund and African Reserve Bank
Ranks 53 on the UN Human Development Index, Libya ranks ahead of Malaysia (61), Russia (65), Ukraine (69), Brazil (73), Venezuela (75) and Tunisia (81).
Longevity has increased by 20 years under Gaddhafi’s rule
Free loans for housing since he promised he will live in tent until everyone has a home
Change the name of stadium on instructions of Al Qaeda fighters’ NTC wont put any dent on his legacy nor changes the truth.
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@Raza Khan:
A populist leader flanked by Mr. Qaddafi had a public meeting in the stadium and it was there that this so called Quid-e-Awam named it Qaddafi Stadium. The year, I think, was 1973.
I had been raising the issue of name change. Just Lahore Stadium is good enough. No Arabian prince or Dukhtar-e-Pakistan or any other nonsense.
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We should not change the name in the first place, as when the name Gaddafi was given to the stadium, he was a popular leader of his country. Secondly, he was a true friend of the people of Pakistan and generously financially contributed towards our nuclear program.
However, if we have to change its name due to the demands of the newly elected government of Libya, then only one name is suitable and that is “M. A. Jinnah Stadium“, not Quaid-e-Azam Stadium, and certainly not anything ending with Bhutto.
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Taseer Cricket Stadium
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Imran Khan Cricket Stadium!!
not JUST for his political achievements but for being the ONLY CAPTAIN OF PAKISTAN WHO WON US THE ODI WORLD CUP! his hometown as well!
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Should be named Mughal-e-Azam Stadium.
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NTC has no busimess to suggest a new name. Wonder who advised our foreign office to ask them. Do we know what happens to them next and in the process we shall keep changing names. Either we keep the name or name it after respectable, honourable personality of Pakistan. How about Raja Rental Stadium?
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It should be named after Salman Taseer. He was from Lahore and was killed for his stance on human rights. No other Lahori deserves it more. As for Imran Khan I think we have enclosures dedicated to him in stadiums all over Pakistan.
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Zardari stadium. Nothing else will do.
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@YASin:
why do we need to name any of our assets in the name of foreigners??? probably some day we ll get a request to rename faisalabad
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Now it should be, Bashar Al-Assad Cricket Stadium Lahore. xDRecommend