Attachments
1 Background Information
1.1Introduction
1.1.1 History
District Sanghar has been an important administrative unit that played an important role in the economy, trade and history of eastern Sindh. Historically, Alexander invaded India in 326 BCE and the ruins of Greek invasion can still be seen in this region. The Arab invasion, led by Muhammad Bin Qasim, in 711 A.D, made Sindh part of the Umayyad Caliphate. Later on, this region was ruled by different dynasties, including the Soomras (1024-1351), the Arghuns (1520-1650), the Kalhoras (1657-1783) and the Talpurs (1783-1843). When Britain invaded the subcontinent, General Charles Napier, a commander in the British Army, defeated the Talpur dynasty and conquered Sindh in 1843.
The Britains contributed in a number of ways towards the development of Sindh. General Charles Napier was appointed as the first Governor General of Sindh. The province was divided into different administrative units and assigned to Zamindars (landlords) to collect taxes for the British government. The British government developed these areas as urban centers. Consequently, people migrated from other districts and provinces as well and started to reside here. The British named these small developed areas as "Talukas".
After World War II, People of Sanghar, under the leadership of their spiritual leader Syed Sibghatullah Shah Shaheed also known as Pir Saab Pagaro, started armed struggle in Sindh to get freedom from the British. The freedom movement they launched was called Hur Tehrik (freedom movement). Pir Pagaro declared his community as “Hur” (free from British slavery). The British tried to crush the uprising that resulted in an armed resistance by the Hurs. The British government passed the “Hur Act” and the entire Hur community was declared criminals and ordered to be shot dead on sight. To crush the Hur Tehrik, the British government established Sanghar as district Headquarters. Pir Pagaro Sayyed Sibghatullah Shah was hanged on March 20, 1943. The Hurs continued their struggle even after the hanging of the Pir Saab, right up to the time of the independence of Pakistan.
As the British left the subcontinent, Sanghar district was merged with Mirpur Khas and some of its portions with Nawabshah, in 1953. Keeping in view administrative and political reasons, Sanghar was declared a district again in 1954 and its headquarters was finally established in Sanghar city.