Pir Ilahi Bux - Politics

Politics

After finishing his education he started taking part in politics, He was elected member of Sindh Legislative Assembly in 1937 in the election held under the 1935 Act. He got elected again by defeating influential landlords and Zamindars of that time. Pir Ilahi Bux founded the Sindh United Front which aimed at separating Sindh from Bombay Presidency which ultimately contributed significantly toward the establishment of Sindh as a separate province. Pir Ilahi Bux was inducted in Sindh Cabinet headed by late Khan Bahadur Allah Bux Soomro and was given the portfolio of Education besides other Departments. Pir Ilahi Bux remained Education Minister for ten years.

Pir Ilahi Bux having been deeply inspired by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, soon joined Muslim League and became one of his most trusted Lieutenants. He was an indefatigable fighter for education in Sindh and shrived hard to introduce adult education and compulsory primary education in every nook and corner of the province. Having been deeply committed to the cause of education, he steered Sindh University Act in the Sindh Assembly and got it through. Quaid-e-Azam was deeply moved by this act of Pir Illahi Bux and personally donated Rs. 150,00OI-towards the University at that time. Pir Ilahi Bux was one of the pioneers of S.M. College and remained as the President of Sindh Madressah Board for years together.

In 1948, he was nominated the Chief Minister of Sindh province by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Pir Sahib was always proud to have been nominated as the Chief Minister of Sindh by no less than the Quaid-e-Azam himself. He was also the founder of Sindh University and was the prime mover of the establishment of Urdu College, Karachi. Pir Ilahi Bux was deeply perturbed over the mass influx of Muslim refugees from India during the early period of the independence of Pakistan and initiated a number of moves for the settlement of refugees in Sindh. He established the famous Pir Ilahi Buksh Colony in Karachi towards the end in 1948. He was also instrumental in inviting eminent educationists from Aligarh Muslim University, his alma mater, to serve the Muslims of Pakistan by appointing them in the Sindh University. One of such personalities was Professor A. B. A. Haleem from the Aligarh Muslim University, who was appointed by him as the first Vice Chancellor of Sindh University.

Pir Ilahi Bux died on October 8, 1975 leaving behind him 5 sons and 2 daughters. The names of the sons are Pir Muhammad Nawaz, Pir Shahnawaz, Pir Abdul Majeed, Pir Abdul Hameed and Pir Abdul Rasheed. His grandson Pir Mazhar Ul Haq Shahnawaz Advocate succeeded him in Politics and remained member of the Provincial assembly of Sindh and remained Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs in Sindh.Pir Mazhar Ul Haq is considered one of the most loyal members of Pakistan Peoples Party and is currently serving as the Senior Minister of Sindh Province holding the portfolios of Education, Literacy and Criminal Prosecution Service, he has contested in Six Elections so far in his political career starting from 1988 and has won all of them.

Pir Illahi Bux's great grand daughter Ms Marvi Pir Mazhar contested as the member of the Sindh Legislative Assembly from Dadu constituency in 2002 General Elections when her father Pir Mazhar Ul Haq faced the political victimization by the government of General Pervez Musharaf and had to go in Exile along with Benazir Bhutto and other Peoples party leaders, Ms Marvi Pir Mazhar was the first ever directly elected woman from this district. His great grandson Barrister Mujeeb-Ul-Haq Pir is practicing Law in his chambers at PIB Law Associates in Dadu. His other great grandson Pir Danish Ali is the Director and Senior Adviser (Government Relations department) of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC).