MQM's stalwart Nabeel Gabol, is yet to make an appearance before his electorate in NA-248 after his former constituency became a 'No-Go' area for him. Citing security concerns, Nabeel Gabol told this correspondent on Wednesday: "My party [MQM] has also advised me to avoid holding public gatherings."
He is yet to galvanise political support for his election campaign with just a couple of days ahead of the polls. He has not addressed nor attended any rally, corner meeting or political gathering since the election date was announced. However, a marginal political campaign is under way in some union councils in Lyari to invite public to vote for him in the May 11 polls. "My party's workers are running political campaigns in union councils, including 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5," he said. His absence in the run up to the polls, however, allowed candidates of other political parties to accelerate their electoral campaigns.
Political observers believe that his declining popularity may cost him his National Assembly seat. Gabol has been facing a number of problems in running his election campaign in the Lyari constituency, but the people hold him responsible for lack of development in the area and failing to resolve their problems.
"Unemployment, poor law and order situation, deteriorating healthcare and education system and other problems remained unsolved during his two consecutive terms in office, creating a lot of public resentment against him," says a donkey-cart driver Allah Dad Baloch.
Gabol was elected twice as Pakistan People Party (PPP) legislator in 2002 and 2008, respectively. People in his constituency said that Gabol failed to come up to their expectations. He joined Muttahida Qaumi Movement in March this year after developing differences with his former party's central leadership. He bagged 84,217 votes in 2008 and 32,424 votes in 2002 from NA-248 on the ticket of Pakistan People Party Parliamentarians (PPPP).
NA-248 mainly comprises areas of 11 union councils in Lyari Town: Agra Taj Colony, Darayabad, Nawabad, Khadda Memon Society, Baghdadi, Shah Beg Lane, Bihar Colony, Rangiwara, Singoo Lane, Chakiwara and Allama Iqbal Colony. Sources said that due to weak organisational strength of MQM in Lyari Town, Nabeel Gabol's election campaign could not gain momentum.
Although the chances of Nabeel Gabool's winning NA-248 are dim but he can still secure a good number of votes from some areas of Lyari, including Khadda Memon Society and Agra Taj Colony if a level playing field is made available to him to run his election drive. Another factor impeding his appearance in the locality is the influence of some groups, who apparently are not allowing him to enter various parts of Lyari.
Nabeel had also filed a petition in the Sindh High Court to seek deployment of army in Lyari, particularly in NA-248 on the day of the elections. Referring to his court petition, he said: "The court has ordered law enforcement agencies to ensure security in Lyari during polls."
The petition states: the condition in Lyari is precarious as different militant groups are operating in the area. It contended that during the hearing of the Karachi law and order case in the Supreme Court, SHOs of Chakiwara, Kalakot and Lyari police stations had stated that no-go areas exist in Lyari Town. The petitioner said that militant groups were ruling the area, as Rangers and police have failed to restore peace there.
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