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They live by a shrine to a saint. Why are their homes being demolished?

Sep 1, 2026 · Diaa Hadid

Originally published by NPR News Read the original

They live by a shrine to a saint. Why are their homes being demolished?
Saida Tanvir stands inside her partially damaged home near Bari Imam on August 20 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Her son, Azeem Ahmed, 16, died while trying to block a bulldozer from crushing their roadside grocery store over the winter.
Saida Tanvir stands inside her partially damaged home near Bari Imam on August 20 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Her son, Azeem Ahmed, 16, died while trying to block a bulldozer from crushing their roadside grocery store over the winter.

The neighborhood is a pilgrimage site, with a shrine to the Sufi saint known as Bari Imam. In the past year, hundreds of homes of the working poor were razed. Residents fear more will be demolished.

(Image credit: Betsy Joles for NPR)

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