This is the second time that I have come across Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, being compared to Beirut (you’ll find the first comparison here). It’s like a phase that cities grow out of, similar to the myriad of comparisons between Bangkok and Beirut during the riots in Thailand last year. Although the title of the article clearly compares Karachi to the Lebanese capital, there is no mention of the comparison anywhere in the article written by Ali K Chishti:
The title of the article is Pakistan’s Beirut: Karachi where Ali writes extensively on targeted killings and armed militias. Beirut is not mentioned at any other point in the article; apparently enough is said by placing the comparison in the title.
Well Ali, I’ll be sending you your Looks Like Beirut Certificate shortly.