Fear of life: Nabil Gabol approaches SHC demanding security

The former lawmaker left the court without filing any petition.

KARACHI: Former lawmaker Nabil Gabol approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday seeking security for himself in view of the death threats he claimed to have received from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain after he detached himself from the party. However, he left the court without filing any petition.

Gabol, escorted by his legal team, reached the court with the intent to file a petition for his security. He also fulfilled the necessary initial procedure of identification. However, he did not go ahead with the petition, citing changes that he wanted to make in his case.

Gabol, who remained a long-time associate of the Pakistan Peoples Party, joined the MQM in March 2013. In the May, 2013, general elections, he was elected to the National Assembly after contesting from MQM's stronghold, Azizabad. However, he resigned after a brief stint with the party earlier this year.



He told the media that the MQM chief was sending him death threats for 'telling the truth' about the party and feared that he might be harmed as the police security he enjoyed had already been withdrawn by the provincial government.

Gabol said that he had unveiled the 'black sheep' within the party, who were not only making the country suffer, but were harming their chief, too.

Speaking about the Sindh police, he said he had no confidence in them. He added that the South DIG had recently levelled allegations against him in a press conference, which is why he did not believe he will be safe with his men. Therefore, he sought the security of the paramilitary force.

After concluding his media talk, he opted to go back rather than going to the court's registrar office to get his petition fixed. He said that he wanted to make some changes in his application and will come back later.

MQM reacts

Reacting to Nabil Gabol's statements regarding its chief, Altaf Hussain, the party issued a statement saying that the former MQM leader was resorting to dirty tactics to get security from the Rangers.

"To acquire security, Nabil Gabol was resorting to dirty tactics and speaking ill against Altaf. Nabil Gabol should remain in his limits," said Rabita Committee member Qasim Ali Raza in the statement. The party said that Gabol had been politically isolated and condemned him for coming up with false accusations against their chief.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2015.