Fatima Jinnah Stadium instead of Qaddafi

KARACHI: Regardless of one’s views about the developments in Libya, events have moved to the point that it may be assumed, with some degree of certainty, that Muammar Qaddafi will find himself dangling from the end of a rope, or with a bullet in the head sooner rather than later.

Either way, and regardless of any other outcome concerning his fate, he will not be president of Libya. The Arab League and other bodies have recognised this reality. The Foreign Office of Pakistan, not known, unfortunately, for its proactive, cutting-edge thinking, has nothing to say on this issue.

May I therefore make a suggestion. It may be best to start thinking of renaming the stadium in Lahore. If Pakistan is to maintain cordial relations with Libya, and there is certainly no reason not to do so, having a stadium named after Mr Qaddafi, may send the wrong signals. Given the fact that Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, decided arbitrarily to name the stadium after Mr Qaddafi, without consulting anyone, the matter should present no difficulties. One has to be pragmatic in these matters and look out for the national interests of Pakistan.

Fatima Jinnah Stadium sounds much better.

YA Hilaly

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2011.