SANGHAR, March 20: It is unjustified that during the last 58 years while writing about Pakistan’s independence, the historians did not mention sacrifices rendered by Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi alias Sooriah Badshah and his companions.

This was stated by scholars and writers at 63rd anniversary of martyrdom of Sooriah Badshah observed at the PSSSS Government College auditorium on Monday.

They said that the Hur movement was the culmination of independence in war against the British colonialism.

The Pir was hanged on March 20, 1943, in the Hyderabad central prison after a verdict by a military court accusing him of waging war against the British Empire.

Dr Nabi Bux Baloch, Professor Umer Chand, Professor Qalandar Shah Lakiari, Khurshid Qaimkhani and Taj Joyo spoke on the occasion.

Dr Baloch said that the Nawab of Bahawalpur and the Talpur rulers of Sindh had refused to support Syed Ahmed Shaheed when he had come to Sindh to seek their support in his struggle against the Sikhs.

He said that it was Sooriah Badshah who had extended his support to him against the Sikh rulers of Punjab and the NWFP.

He said that concentration camps were set up by the British rulers across Sindh and the Hur freedom fighters along with their families incarcerated.

Dr Baloch said that it was pity that even after the independence in 1947, the Hurs remained forgotten and were released in 1952.

The speakers said that the Hurs had no formal military training but they had fought a tough guerrilla war.

The martial law was imposed and the Hurs were hanged without trial, their villages were burnt and Gunang Bungalow, the headquarters of the Pir, was bombed by the British Royal Air Force.

In 1930, he was sentenced for eight years and was sent to Ratnagri and Bengal jail to shatter his nerves, but it is said that his resolve to fight was more fortified.

After releasing from the jail, the Pir again started organizing his devotees.

He was arrested in 1941 again and was hanged on the orders of all-white military court and the body was buried clandestinely at an undisclosed place.