Cheel Chowk’s real name was Ibrahim Chowk before it was came to be known as such. It was named after Ibrahim Hussain Baloch, who is a prominent social worker of Nawa Lane and died shortly after partition. The people of Lyari decided to crown this chowk with an eagle as according to them the eagle symbolizes the Arabs love for the creature. Shahid, grandson of Ibrahim Baloch, explained that the slain Rehman alias Dakait and his martyred brother Zahid Hussain Baloch had decided earlier on this decoration.
Shahid’s cousin was also killed beside Murtaza Bhutto. His cousin was an inspiration for the people and thus was a bigger motivation to put up the bird. The eagle came into being in the last tenure of the Pakistan People’s party. There is a 2 foot pillar at the chowk that is decorated half way up the stone. A fish is carved at its base. Before its disoriented state that it is in now, the chowk used to have a fountain and colourful lights.
One of the wings of the eagle has been broken and yet no repairs have been done to mend its state. According to Shahid Baloch, the metallic body of the bird weighs 100 kgs and a crane was used to put it in its position on top of the pillar. It cost around Rs 500,000.
The residents are hopeful about fixing the chowk that has been damaged by bullets and are sure to collect enough funds for the repair works of the chowk.