Chanting the slogan, 'throw Nabeel Gabol out of Lyari,' at the tune of traditional 'Lawa' drumbeat and carrying an effigy of the once exalted Gabol festooned with shoes around the neck, -hundreds of angry protestors marched up to Karachi Press Club from Lyari against the PPP MNA from the area, who is also State Minister for Ports and Shipping.
The ruling PPP federal legislator, who obtained record votes from Lyari in February 2008's general elections, was castigated by his own supporters outside Karachi Press Club on Saturday by holding a demonstration. Hundreds of protestors including women and youth were screaming against Gabol and demanded of the central leadership to oust him from the party with a better replacement.
Women were carrying the slain Rehman Baloch's portraits in their hands and the youth were raising slogans vowing to be faithful to the PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. The Lawa Dance - a famous Lyari way of celebration, continued all the way. Participants rode donkey carts, motorbikes, vans and trucks with loud Balochi songs to reach KPC.
The protest demonstration depicted a carnival look with jubilant youths flying PPP flags and chanting slogans. Traffic on the road outside KPC was completely jammed, as marchers reached there to begin the protest demonstration with reciting verses from the Holy Qura'n.
Slogan, which continuously echoed the surroundings were, "go Gabol go," "Do you want Gabol- no, no", and "Alwida Gabol Alwida." President People's Peace Committee, Shahid Rehman announced that they would choose their own candidate in upcoming general elections that might be Uzair Baloch, son of late Rehman Baloch, or anyone else.
Vowing to be faithful to Zardari, he said the people of Lyari would snatch their rights if denied. Member PPP Sindh Council, Habib Jan criticised Gabol, saying voting him to National Assembly cost people of Lyari dearly. "What we got by from voting Gabol - fake police encounters, gang war, bloodshed, killings, thefts and plunder." He announced to take out "Peace March" in the city on Sunday, January 23 to meet leadership of all political parties. "We will go to Sunni Tehrik central office, ANP secretariat, and MQM's Nine Zero for restoration of peace in the city," he said.
He said the people of Lyari had nothing to do with the killings at Shershah's scarp market, adding Lyariites believed in peaceful coexistence. Members of People Peace Committee warned Gabol of serious implications of his attitude towards people of Lyari, saying the huge gathering should be seen as a referendum against him.
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