PAKISTAN: An Osama Bin Laden action figure complete with military jeep and bodyguards is the latest toy craze in Karachi

Record ID: 319440

  • Title: PAKISTAN: An Osama Bin Laden action figure complete with military jeep and bodyguards is the latest toy craze in Karachi
  • Date: 4th December 2002
  • Summary: (L3) KARACHI, PAKISTAN (DECEMBER 4, 2002) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) WS/NIGHT/EXTERIOR: OF MARKET. WS/NIGHT/EXTERIOR: PEOPLE COMING INTO THE MARKET. WS/INTERIOR: PEOPLE SHOPPING AT THE MARKET. WS: OF TOY SHOP. CU: SHOT OF TOY JEEP CARRYING OSAMA BIN LADEN TOY. CU: TOY SCUD MISSILE. PAN/CU: OF TOY JEEP CARRYING OSAMA. VARIOUS/CU: SHOTS OF TOY JEEP CARRYING OSAMA (3 SHOTS) WS: OF TOY SHOP, PEOPLE BUYING TOYS. CU: PEOPLE PICKING UP TOYS. VARIOUS: SHOTS OF TOY JEEP MOVING. (2 SHOTS) SCU: SOUND BITE ( ENGLISH ) IMRAN, A YOUNG MAN SAYING "As you know Osama is very popular in the whole world, same thing is happening in Pakistan, people like him and he has become a celebrity now." CU: TOY RIFLEDEMONSTRATED BY SHOP OWNER. PAN/VARIOUS: YOUNG GIRLS BUYING TOY JEEP AND TOY RIFLE. (3 SHOTS) SCU: SOUNDBITE (URDU) ERAM, A YOUNG GIRL, SAYING "Children like Osama's car. They want to buy toys like Osama's cars or Osama's guns" MV: SHOT OF A YOUNG BOY ASSEMBLING THE PARTS OF OSAMA'S TOY JEEP. VARIOUS: OF OSAMA TOYS. (3 SHOTS) SCU: SOUNDBITE (URDU) NASEER, A SALESMAN SAYING "The toy is very much in demand and popular in the market, people pay in advance to purchase this toy. MV: YOUNG GIRLS BUYING TOYS.
  • Embargoed: 19th December 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KARACHI, PAKISTAN
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: International Relations,Quirky,Politics,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAERZ2YWF52T9B2DBQ3IVGYH7EB
  • Story Text: There's one toy for sale in the festival markets of Karachi that catches the eye at Eid. Its a distinctive, bearded figurine, riding 'shotgun' in a military jeep, and its proving to be a big hit with mothers and fathers buying holiday presents for their youngsters.
    Toy crazes are a common theme in the build up to Christmas holidays in the west, with certain 'must-have' presents disappearing off shelves in a flash, parents queueing up for hours or even coming to blows to make sure their offspring has the latest thing.
    The story is no different in the Muslim world as Eid approaches but one of this year's 'must-haves' would probably be banned from sale in many parts of the west; an Osama bin-Laden action figure complete with military jeep and bodyguards.
    "As you know Osama is very popular in the whole world, the same thing is happening in Pakistan, people like him and he has become a celebrity now," said Imran, a young boy eyeing up the goods on offer at a Karachi toy store.
    "Children like Osama's car. They want to buy toys like Osama's cars or Osama's guns," echoed Eram, a young girl showing an equally keen interest in the toy.
    According to a toy stall holder, Naseer, some parents were even paying up to $4.00 in advance to ensure they could become the proud owners of one of the dolls.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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