Tribune Take: Pir Pagara's son has big shoes to fill

Even with the policy to support military dictators, Pir Pagara's party struggles for political significance.

In today’s episode of the Tribune Take we look at Pir Pagara Shah Mardan Shah II's death, the role he played in politics and the impact his death will have on the political landscape of Pakistan. 

Hafeez Tunio, reporter The Express Tribune, says Pir Pagara took the decision to support all military rulers and the establishment after his father's death. He says the Pir believed that his followers had been persecuted enough by the British for being in the opposition camp, leading to the party following a pragmatic approach to politics.

Chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), and spiritual leader of the ‘Hur’ jamaat passed away in London, late on Tuesday due to lung infection. Late Pir Pagara’s body was flown from London to Karachi last night, from where it was taken to the Sukkur airport. From the airport, the prime minister’s helicopter took the body to the house of Pir Pagara’s youngest wife. Funeral prayers were led by Pir of Chiniot Pir Syed Sirajuddin, on Thursday.

Tunio says even with the policy to support every military dictator from Ayub Khan to Pervez Musharraf, Pir Pagara's party struggles for political significance. Although, he notes his successor, his eldest son Sabghatullah Shah Rashdi, will find it hard to fill the gap left by his father.

Read Hafeez Tunio’s articles here.

The Tribune Take daily news web show will appear on the tribune.com.pk home page.

The Take will feature in-depth interviews and analysis with editors and reporters who are covering the major stories, exploring front page events and major ledes. The news analysis covers the way The Express Tribune examines a story, how we cover it and why.