Quran, other volumes looted from Pakistan library for heat

[sabra]

http://www.sltrib.com/nationworld/ci_3301353

Quran, other volumes looted from Pakistan library for heat

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan - When night fell after the Oct. 8 quake, many survivors burned broken furniture to stay warm. Some, however, stormed the shattered state-run Khursheed National Library, pulling out books and newspapers to make bonfires.

An estimated 10,000 books went up in smoke that night. Three days later, half the library's books - including Qurans - had been turned into ashes, when the army stepped in and stopped it.

Mohammed Hanif, a clerk at the library for 14 years, did not believe it when his brother came rushing to Hanif's home and told him what was happening at the library.
''But when I rushed there I saw several people taking books to a nearby park where they were staying with their families after their homes were destroyed'' Hanif said. The books are like my children. I wept when they were throwing the books into the fire.''
''I tried to stop them, but they started beating me.''

After the army halted the looting, Hanif came back and retrieved what was intact, salvaging copies of an American encyclopedia, a Quran, books of novels and nonfiction works.


Tomas Munita/The Associated Press
A Kashmiri man protects his son from the cold in a refugee camp in Garhi Dupatta, 25 km. east ok Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, Sunday Dec. 11, 2005. The October 8 earthquake killed more than 87,000 people, destroyed the homes of 3.5 million others, and left 4.5 million dependent on food aid.

[Warpy]

1. Those fires kept them from freezing

and probably cooked their food, if they had any.

Literature becomes dispensable when you're freezing.

I suppose we'll find that out soon enough, the way the GOP is taking us.

[Benhurst]

2. But I'm sure they are grateful for all BushAmerica has done for them.

Winning friends wherever we go!

[JNelson6563]

3. Sorry Pakistan!

But with the $2 billion a week we're pouring into our misadventure in Iraq we can't help. Don't worry, soon the majority of Iraqis will be as bad off as you so at least you'll have them to commiserate with.

:sarcasm:

[951-Riverside]

4. OMG Looters!!!!!!

...Our first priority should always be property If people are allowed to loot society falls apart!!!! :sarcasm: