HYDERABAD: Speakers paid rich tributes to the services of Mir Rasool Bux Khan Talpur and Mir Ali Ahmed Khan Talpur of Hyderabad, late Mir brothers, here on Sunday in Tando Mir Mehmood’s Mir garden.

They said the brothers had won the hearts of people by serving them beyond all political and lingual considerations, adding that the two brothers fought against Gen Ayub while siding with Fatima Jinnah and stood for Baloch rights against the heavy odds.

It was a death anniversary programme organised by the Mir Biradaran Memorial Foundation after a long gap by the family members of late Mir brothers.

Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur and Mir Haider Talpur, sons of late Mir Ali Ahmed Khan Talpur (who remained federal defence minister in the Zia regime and agriculture, food and cooperative bank minister in 1955-56 before the East Pakistan debacle) and Mir Rafiq Talpur, son of Mir Rasool Bux Khan Talpur (who remained Sindh governor during the Z. A. Bhutto regime and served as senior Sindh minister in the Ziaul Haq era) were present besides others.

A large number of people attended the programme. Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) MNA Salahuddin, Jamiat Ulemai Pakistan-Noorani (JUP-N) president Sahibzada Abul Khair M Zubair, Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl leader Taj Mohammad Nahiyoon, Dr Dodo Mehri, Qamar Zaman Rajpar, Sindh Hari Committee leader Akbar Jaoti, leaders of late Mairaj Mohammad Khan’s party, Pakistan Qaumi Mahaz Azadi, Hissamul Haq, Sadiq Jarchavi and others also spoke.

The speakers said Mir Rasool Bux Khan Talpur and Mir Ali Ahmed Talpur were known for their people-friendly approaches and never saying ‘no’ to anyone whosever approaches for any kind of help. They said that they were towering political personalities of their era.

MNA Salahuddin said he was too young when he used to hear stories about the two Mirs who were always willing to come to the rescue of anyone needing help. They always believed in serving the masses and that was why their houses always remained a centre of attraction for the people of the city and other parts of Sindh, he said.

He said Mir Rasool Bux and Mir Ali Ahmed Talpur never thought in terms of ethnic divide, expressing the hope that future generation of those great men would continue the traditions and trends set by their elders.

JUP-N leader Sahibzada Zubair said the Mirs never disappointed people as they always tried to serve people. He said that they played an important role when Pakistan was in trouble, adding that both had played an important role during different movements.

Dr Dodo Mehri – a former nationalist leader who has recently joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) – recalled that when Baloch leader Nauraz Khan was hanged in military regime, the Mir brothers received his body at the central prison Hyderabad and sent it to Balochistan with dignity during the Ayub regime.

He said that again they supported Fatima Jinnah in her election against Gen Ayub, adding that then the Mir brothers were first to welcome Z. A. Bhutto when he quit Ayub and set up first unity of the PPP in Tando Agha. But then they differed with Z. A. Bhutto over certain issues. He said they had advised Bhutto not to go for military operation in Balochistan as it would have repercussions.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nihal Hashmi said the Mir brothers were sons of Pakistan. He said that now their sons should lead people and join the PML-N. He said that those who had joined politics after the Mir brothers were dwarfs and they had destroyed Sindh’s cities.

Taj Mohammad Nahiyoon said today three provinces were demanding their rights, but nobody was listening. He said the prime minister did not know how to speak and he took pride in hurling abuses at political leaders. He alleged that Imran Khan befooled the masses with his emotional speeches.

Another leader of the PML-N, Qamar Rajpar, said the Mir brothers always encouraged the downtrodden to form their union and they took keen interest in forming unions of ‘tonga walas’, rickshaw drivers etc. He said that they never discriminated against anyone.

Akbar Jatoi said today’s gathering reflected the love of people from every walk of life for the Mir brothers. He said those people should be remembered on occasions as they had raised voice for Sindh’s rights like hari leader and his grandfather Haider Bux Jatoi.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2020