Daily Times

SHIKARPUR: The grave of Khan Bahadur Agha Qadir dad Khan Pathan, the former prime minister of princely Khairpur Mirs state, now Khairpur Mirs district of Sindh, Kiri Atta Muhammad Khan Muhallah graveyard in Shikarpur, is in dilapidated conditions.

Heritage lovers have demanded Sindh government to repair the historical grave. Khan Bahadur Agha Qadir dad Khan “Kakar” Pathan was born in 16th January of 1844, at Kiri Atta Muhammad Muhallah in Shikarpur, his father Gul Muhammad Khan Pathan, a famous trader, was assassinated by unidentified armed men during robbery bid when he was heading to Delhi for business.

Agha Qadir dad Khan got his early education in Shikarpur and succeeded to get a job as a record keeper in Collector Office in Shikarpur in 1859. After serving seven years, he was promoted as a Mukhtiarkar of Sehwan Sharif Town 19th July of 1866, and then he promoted as a Deputy Collector and rendered their services in various places before partition.

In 7th April 1894, Meer Faiz Muhammad Khan Talpur took an oath as a king of Khairpur Mirs princely state, after the death of his father Meer Ali Murad Khan Talpur.

In an oath taking ceremony, Mr Jailas, the Collector of Sukkur and Political Agent of Khairpur Mirs, during his speech, assured to newly king Mir Faiz Muhammad Khan Talpur for his close co-operation.

Later, after getting the final approval from Mir Faiz Muhammad Khan, British government appointed to Agha Qadir dad Khan Pathan as a minister of princely state and then promoted as a superior rank as a Prime Minister of same state.

Assuming the office of the premier, Agha Qadir dad Khan took keen interest into the administrative management and ended domination of a few persons and handed over the administrative affairs among individual persons to run the affairs of the departments with transparency and smoothly hence the socio-economic condition of the Khairpur Mirs increased.

Agha, established more than 100 schools and paid special attention towards technical education and handicraft education while constructed structure of roads, bridges, sea routes and grand building, reportedly, it was also said to be that “Faiz Muhal”, the historic palace in Khairpur Mirs, was also constructed by his supervision.

British government impressed his honesty and the outstanding service and achievements rendered by Agha Qadir dad Khan, hence awarded him the titles of Khan Bahadur and C.I.A award.

Agha Qadir dad Khan made 2nd marriage and God blessed him two sons and one daughter, whose names are Agha Ghulam Dastagir Khan and Agha Ghulam Hussain Khan while the name of his daughter could not ascertained, after the death of his first wife, while his both the wives were belonged to Shikarpur.

Agha Qadir dad Khan was died in 31st May of 1903, in Khairpur Mir’s and he was buried in his ancestral graveyard in Shikarpur.

Dr, Anwar Figar Hakro, a researcher and in-charge Sindhi Department at Sindh University Hyderabad, said that he Khan Bahadur Qadir dad Khan Pathan rendered their great services for princely state Khairpur Mirs and should have a road or building his name in Khairpur Mirs.

Agha Abdul Qadir Pathan, the close relative of slain Khan Bahadur Agha Qadir dad, said that his son Agha Ghulam Dastigr was a Sessions Judge and his 2nd son Agha Ghulam Hussain was a collector and both of his sons have died and his grandson Agha Rafiq Pathan, he has been a Commissioner of Sukkur and during his commissionership he inaugurated the “Agha Qadir dad Khan Zarai Market” in his remembrance at Rohri bypass near Sukkur.

Nasim Bukhari, prominent columnist and writer said that due to apathy of the concerned authorities, the grave of famous personality has been destroying since long while he demanded of the higher authorities as well as “EFT” that it is time to take steps to preserve a historic grave lest historical grave should destroy.