Allah Bakhsh Gabol

Khan Bahadur Allah Bakhsh Gabol (Urdu: خان بهادرالله بخش گبول ) (of Baloch origin), was a political leader of the 20th century, and a key proposer of the Pakistan Movement from Sindh [http://www.dawn.com/2007/08/27/fea.htm] . Based in Karachi, he owned a tremendous portion of its land, including Lea Market, Safoora Goth, Chutta Khan Goth, Gadap, Gabol Town and Jinnah International Airport. Allah Bakhsh Gabol was the son of the influential landlord Khudadad Khan Gabol, and the grand father of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Nabil Gabol [http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=40902] .

Political life

Allah Bakhsh Gabol had the great honour of being the first Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, after the Government of India Act 1935 [http://www.pap.gov.pk/pro-ass/sindh.htm] and was also twice elected as the noble Mayor of Karachi in 1953 and 1962 [http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/24/top10.htm] . Due to his prominent status, he was awarded the title of Khan Bahadur by the British Empire. He was considered as probably the most influential politician of Karachi at his time [ [http://www.sindhudesh.com/gmsyed/case/saeen-book1-part1.htm The Case of Sindh - G.M. Syed’s deposition in court (Part 1)] ] . Later, his son Abdul Sattar Gabol and grandson Nabil Gabol have carried on his legacy.

Social work

During his life time Allah Bakhsh Gabol donated vast areas of land to the poor, especially the Baloch of Karachi and Sindh. There are still many schools and cultural centres in his name that exist today, including the famous Gabol Football Park [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesp/paki03.html Pakistan 2003] ] . He donated the land for Quaid-e-Azam's mausoleum to the people of Pakistan. Because of his contributions, he is still remembered by the people of the region.

Baloch League

Being the largest Baloch urban centre, Karachi has played an important role for the development of the Baloch national consciousness. Karachi is not only the cradle of the modern Balochi literary movement, but also the centre of the modern Baloch politics. Simultaneous with formation of the Anjuman, the Baloch intellectuals in Karachi formed a nationalist organisation, called the Baloch League. Gholam Mohammad Noor ud-Din, educated from Bombay, was appointed as its president. The other members of its leadership were: Waja Omar Bakhsh Sabera, a famous merchant, Maolavi Mohammad Osman, Mehrab Khan, Issa Khan, Maolavi Abdul Samad Sarbazi, Khan Sahib Osman, Pir Bakhsh Shahdad and Allah Bakhsh Gabol [http://www.balochistaninfo.com/200604/BalochNationalismitsOriginandDevelopment.pdf] . In its annual conference in 1930, the League condemned Magasi's imprisonment and openly demanded his immediate release from the British authorities. In the late 1930s, after his graduation from Aligarh University, the legendary nationalist leader, Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo also joined the League.

References

* [http://www.balochistaninfo.com/200604 BalochNationalismitsOriginandDevelopment.pdf]
*http://www.albloushi.net/baloosh/baloosh4.htm
*http://www.ansab-online.com/phpBB2/archive/index.php?t-1824.html
* [http://www.pas.gov.pk Sindh Government website]
*"Preserving History", Dawn 2007

CDGK records

Gabol tribesmen

External links

* [http://www.pas.gov.pk/ Provincial Assembly of Sindh]