LONDON Spiritual Leader of Hur Community and Chief of Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) Pir Mardan Shah-II, more commonly known as Pir Pagara, breathed his last at the age of 83 here on Tuesday, Geo News reported.

Pir Pagara was taken to a hospital in London for treatment after suffering from an infection following his surgery in Karachi a few days ago.

Doctors at London’s Wellington Hospital said the cause of death was cardiac arrest.

A Pakistan International Airlines flight would fly his dead body back home on Wednesday.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani have telephoned Pir Pagaro’s sons in London and registered their condolences. Pagara was also an uncle to PM Gilani.

Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah has announced three-day mourning in Sindh.

Governor Sindh, Dr Isharat-ul-Ibad has also condoled with his heirs.

Political circles across the country have expressed grief over his death.

Pir Pagara spent a major part of his life being actively engaged in Pakistan’s politics.

He was born in Pir Jo Goth on November 22, 1928. He had his primary education at his birth-town. While his his father was under arrest, Khalifas at Dargah Sharif looked after his education.

In 1946 he was kept under house arrest along with his younger brother and family members in Karachi. He stayed for three years in Aligrah from 1943 to 1946. In 1946 he was shifted to Liverpool, England, where he was admitted in Majiour Davis Private School but was kept school-bound.

In 1949 Prime Minister Liaqut Ali Khan met him in England and assured him of restoration of his Status. On 4th February 1952 his status as Pir Pagara was officially restored with Dasterbandi.

Immediately after restoration of Gadi he had many challenges to face. Most important challenge was to restore the image of Hur Jamat. British during those last 30 years had tarnished the image of Jamat and projected the Jamat as terrorist. It was a big task to clarify the position of the Jamat and reorganize it, which he did with all his might.

Pir Sahib was very fond of hunting and horseracing. He owned many race-winning horses of rare pedigree. The credit of Karachi racecourse club’s restoration also goes to only Pir Sahib. Forecasting was also one of his hobbies. His political forecasts often came true. On top of all these, he was a first class cricketer as well.

During the colonial rule, his forebear Pir Syed Sibghtullah Shah Shaheed started armed struggle against the British in the form of Hur movement. The rulers were so scared of the movement that they assassinated Sibghtullah Shah Shaheed to control the movement. Thus Sibghtullah Shah Shaheed gave his life independence.

Pir Sahib also felt it was his duty to safeguard & maintain the sovereignty, integrity and independence of the homeland. In 1965, when India attacked Pakistan, Pir Sahib asked his followers to serve the country. About 20,000 volunteers came out and fought very bravely and captured many posts of India.

Similarly in 1971 by order of Pir sahib his followers volunteered and fought very bravely. the news

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Pir Pagara passes away in London

KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) chief and spiritual leader of Hur community Pir Pagara has passed away in London late on Tuesday night, DawnNews reported.

The 83 years old veteran politician was taken to London by a special air ambulance on January 05, along with his physician and family members, for treatment of his infected lungs.

His sons Pir Sadruddin Shah Rashdi and Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi, his wife, physician Dr Saulat, secretary Dr Karim Mehar and adviser to the Sindh chief minister Imtiaz Shaikh were also in London for his treatment in a private hospital.

His dead body will be buried in his native town Pir jo Goth.

As far as his political party is concerned, in fifties, after the defeat of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah at the hands of Field Marshall Ayub Khan in presidential run, Mohtarma declared the Muslim League as Functional and made Pir Pagaro the head of this faction of Pakistan Muslim League, which he led with grace till his death.

Dawn

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Pir Pagara passes away: The political oracle goes silent
KARACHI:
Veteran politician and spiritual leader of the Hur Jamaat, Pir Pagara died in London on Tuesday.
The 83-year-old suffered from a lung problem, but initial reports suggest he passed away due to a heart attack. His body will be flown to Karachi today (Wednesday) evening before being taken to his home town Pir Jo Goth in Khairpur Mirs.
Famous for his predictions, the chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), at his last press conference, had said he would take a week’s leave ‘to go to nurse land.’
Pagara was admitted to the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi on November 24, where his lungs were operated upon. Shortly afterwards, due to deteriorating condition, he was put on a ventilator. He was subsequently flown to London on an air ambulance, accompanied by family and party leaders, and admitted to Wellington Hospital.
Childhood and early education
The seventh Pir Pagaro (chieftain) of his jamaat, the deceased was born Shah Mardan Shah II, alias Pir Sikandar Shah, on November 22, 1928 in Pir Jo Goth.
His father, Syed Sabighatullah Shah Rashdi, was hanged on March 20, 1943, in Hyderabad Central Jail by the colonial government for his struggle against British rule. His burial site remains unknown. Pagara and his brother, Nadir Shah, were taken into custody by the British government after their father’s death.
Before being sent to London, Pagara was under the custody of a police official Qazi Sadurdin in Aligarh, India, between 1943 and 1946. He was taught the Holy Quran during that time.
He received his early education at Davis Elementary School in London, where children of rebellious leaders were usually schooled, and was taught French, Latin and English.
Returns to Pakistan
Pagara met with the first prime minister of Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan after independence, who played a key role in bringing him back to Pakistan in 1951. His confiscated property and ‘gaddi’ (spiritual seat) were subsequently restored, and he became the spiritual leader of the Hur Jamaat in 1952.
His first marriage was to the daughter of Miran Muhammad Shah, a landlord and spiritual leader from Rahim Yar Khan, who is the uncle of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
He had three sons from that marriage – Sabghatullah Shah Rashdi (Raja Saen), Sadruddin Rashdi (Younus Saen), and Ali Gohar Shah. One of Pagara’s daughters is married to PPP leader Agha Siraj Durrani, while his granddaughter is married to one of Prime Minister Gilani’s sons. Pagara married a second time, a few years ago, into his relatives in Pir Jo Goth. He has three children from the second marriage.
Political career
Kingri House, Pagara’s residence in Karachi, served as a focal point for politicians from across the spectrum who came to meet him and seek political guidance. Pagara started his political career from Ayub Khan’s Conventional Muslim League before switching to Sheikh Mujeeb’s Awami League.
Later, he joined the Muslim League before launching his own party, the PML-Functional.
Pagara had a political dispute with Bhutto, when the later came to power, which resulted in the death of seven of his devotees in Sindh.
The veteran politician supported all military rules in the country. He welcomed Ziaul Haq into power, after Bhutto was hanged, and recommended Muhammad Khan Junejo for the post of prime minister.
The self-dubbed ‘modern Pagara’ was fond of smoking cigars, the reason cited by his close aides for his lung problems.
Condolence messages flew in from across the country as a large number of political leaders, friends and devotees gathered at his Karachi and Pir Jo Goth residence following the news of his demise.
Chief Khalifa of the Hur Jamaat Qadir Bux Mangrio, while talking to The Express Tribune, said “No one can fill the gap left behind by Pir Saen.”
Published in The Express Tribune,

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