The loyal subject: Hur Jamaat’s oldest crusader

SANGHAR:

At 108 years of age, Mevo Kariro is the only living Hur freedom fighter.

The diehard follower of Hur Jamaat still lives in the Makhi forest, which was once a hideout for those affiliated with the Hur Movement initiated against the British colonial rule.

Over a span of a century, he seems to have witnessed all the historic events leading up to the creation of Pakistan.

When the British government declared the Hur Movement a terrorist group in 1942, Mevo was one of the rebels who were ordered to be ‘shot at sight’.

He was imprisoned in 1943 when then leader of the Hur Movement Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi was hanged by British rulers.

Mevo, however, managed to escape and rejoined the movement against the colonial forces till Pakistan came into being.

Frail, but still spirited, Mevo continues to unconditionally support the Hur Jamaat.

His devotion to Pir Pagara, whom he calls his ‘murshid’ (spiritual leader), seems to be everlasting. After every sentence he utters, he says, “I am grateful to my spiritual leader and God.”

Mevo played a key role in every election from 1960s to 1990s and has worked as election agent of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional.

“Before the elections start, I go to the polling station and spend the whole day there. This time I will be the first voter at our polling station. My prime objective is to sweep the election in our area in favour of the Hur Jamaat’s candidate,” he said.

He added that the personality of the candidate does not matter to them since Pir Pagara has nominated the candidate.

Although he is old and immobile, his memory has not failed him. He knows all the historic events he has witnessed over the past century on his fingertips.

He still remembers the day Shah Mardan Shah (the late Pir Pagaro) had fielded Atta Muhammad Marri, father of Shazia Marri, against the Pakistan Peoples Party candidate in the 1970s election.

Bhutto’s party swept the elections in all parts of Sindh and Punjab, except Sanghar district, which has been a stronghold of Hur Jamaat.

“When Pir Sahib told us that Bhutto had challenged him in the elections, we became really emotional. ‘Who is Bhutto and has he challenged our spiritual leader,’ we had thought.”

Mevo’s biggest wish, he says, would be to meet his murshid before he dies.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2013.