Daily Times

SHIKARPUR: Soomra Ittehad (SI), Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM) and Rawadari Tehreek (RT) on Tuesday observed 75th death anniversary of Shaheed Allah Bux Soomro at Hathi gate in Shikarpur.

The former chief minister of Sindh before partition, Shaheed Allah Bux Soomro was born in 1900 and got his early education at Thull tehsil of Jacobabad in 1910. Later, he got admission in higher secondary school in Shikarpur in 1911, and passed matriculation in 1919.

He belonged to a middle-class family, his father Muhammad Umar Soomro was a famous contractor and businessman of the region.

Dr Amir Abbas Soomro, the grandson of Allah Bux Soomro, said that his grandfather used to travel on his horse-cart without any protocol.

‘Freedom-of-speech for everyone’ was a slogan raised by him. He took a keen interest in politics and became member of Jacobabad Municipal Committee in 1923. In 1928, he was elected as a member of local board at Sukkur district, and then he became president of the same board in 1930.

He was awarded a title of ‘little Khan Bahadur’ in 1931 while he was also selected as a member of Bombay Residency.

After implementation of “All India Act” in 1935, the Sindh was declared as autonomous province on April 1 in 1936.

The 1937 general elections in Sindh elected Allah Bux Soomro as the prime minister of Sindh province.

After assuming the charge, he developed Sindh, particularly education sector.

“Once, he was arrested and put behind the bars by a policeman, but he did not introduce himself till morning. He gave reward money to the police officer for his bravery to maintain law and order,” Dr Amir Abbas said.

He embarrassed martyrdom when three assailants opened fire on him while he was traveling to Begari canal on his horse-cart on May 14 in 1943, in Shikarpur.

He left three sons and five daughters.

SI chief Irshad Ali Soomro paid a great tribute to Allah Bux Soomro, who rendered his services for the people of Sindh. His services would be remembered in the history.

Notables including Waheed Soomro, Ishfaque Soomro, Ishtiaq Soomro, Haji Ishfaque Soomro, Naeem Sabir Soomro, and others also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Daily Times, May 16^th 2018.