Abbottabad compound: K-P takes possession of OBL plot

PESHAWAR: Authorities in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa have taken control of a plot of land in Abbottabad where al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden lived for the last five years of his life. Possession was taken after a notification was issued in this regard. Spread over 6 kanals and 13 marlas and situated in Abbottabad, the land was the site of the compound where Bin Laden was killed by US Marines on May 2. The compound was thoroughly ransacked for a treasure trove of information by US forces during the operation. Subsequently, Pakistani agencies conducted a thorough search of the building, which was razed to the ground afterwards. In July, the government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa issued an advertisement requesting claimants of the land to contact the office of District Revenue Officer within 15 days. The land, allegedly owned by Muhammad Arshad, remained unclaimed during this period after which official proceedings for transfer were completed.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2012.