SUKKUR, Jan 12: Shah Mardan Shah-II Pir Pagara, the spiritual leader of Hur Jamaat and chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional, was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard, Dargah-i-Rashidia in Pir Jo Goth, on Thursday afternoon amid wailing by thousands of his followers.

In keeping with tradition, the decision about Pir Pagara's succession was taken, before he was laid to rest, by 15 Khalifas (disciples). They named the eldest son, Pir Sibghatullah Shah alias Raja Sain, as the eighth Pir Pagara.

Immediately after the announcement about his succession, a formal ceremony for Dastar Bandi was held before Zuhr prayers. Former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Syed Ahmed Mehmood, Syed Ali Gohar Shah, Syed Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi, Jam Mashooque Ali, the prime minister's son Abdul Qadir Gilani and former Sindh chief minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar attended the ceremony.

With a gold-studded cap on his head, the new Pir Pagara was escorted by his Khalifas to the shrine's balcony. From there he made an appearance for Deedar-i-Aam (public viewing) and made a brief address.

Pir Sibghatullah Shah exhorted people to follow Islamic teachings and educate their children, especially daughters, on modern lines. He advised them to show tolerance and respect towards each other and be patriotic.

The Namaz-i-Janaza followed. It was attended, among others, by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, a number of federal and provincial ministers, the chief minister of Sindh, Syed Ghous Ali Shah and Hamza Shahbaz Sharif.

Pir of Jhang, Siraj Ahmed Gilani, led the prayers.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement leaders Dr Sagheer Ahmed and Ashfaque Mangi, Muhajir Qaumi Movement Chairman Afaq Ahmed, former Sindh chief minister Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, Ilahi Bakhsh Soomro, a former speaker of the National Assembly, were also present.

Pir Sibghatullah Shah did not take part in the burial of his father, upholding a tradition.

The burial was performed by his youngerbrothers, Syed Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi, Ali Gohar Shah Rashidi and Hizbullah Shah Rashidi.

The graveyard of Dargah-i-Rashidia now has tombs of seven Pir Pagaras. The previous six are: Pir Syed Mohammad Rashid Roza Dhani, Pir Syed Sibghatullah Shah Tajal Dhani, Syed Ali Gohar Shah Kamli Dhani, Syed Hizbullah Shah Takht Dhani, Syed Gohar Shah Sani Mafae Dhani and Shah Mardan Shah Kot Dhani.

Hundreds of thousands of people started arriving at the Dargah soon after the announcement of death of their spiritual leader, on Jan 10, and stayed there till the funeral, braving a biting cold.

An area within a radius of seven kilometres around Pir Jo Goth turned into a parking lot of vehicles, forcing mourners to trudge four to six kilometres to reach the Dargah.

The entire town of Pir Jo Goth, many parts of Gambat, Ranipur, Khairpur, Pano Akil and Ghotki, wore a deserted look after markets shuttered down as a mark of respect for the late Pir Pagara. The body of Pir Pagara was flown in on a C-130 plane from Karachi to Sukkur in the morning, but due to inclement weather the plane was diverted to Jacobabad for some time. It finally landed at Sukkur at 10am.

Pir Sibghatullah Rashidi, Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi, Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh and the widow of Pir Pagara accompanied the coffin. They took it in a helicopter from Sukkur and landed at the Dargah after 20 minutes.

The body was first taken to the Zanan Khana (women's chamber), where the widow of Pir Pagara _ his second wife and daughter of Syed Mehmood Shah Rashidi _ and other relatives had a last glimpse.

After half an hour the body was brought into the Dargah and taken for burial following the announcement of selection of the eighth Pir Pagara. Namaz-i-Janaza was offered at 3pm.

The new Pir Pagara, 55, served as provincial irrigation minister in 1985-87 during the days of Chief Minister Syed Ghous Ali Shah. He was quite active in politics till 1990, but later he asked his brother, Syed Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi who is also president of PML-F's Sindh chapter, to take care of political matters.