Noor Mohammad Kalhoro - Early History

Early History

In the 4th year of his rule, i.e. 1722, the Daudpotas took certain "aggressive measures" ?. They fought with Mullah Jiyand Abra, who was Miyan Nur Muhammad’s agent in charge of certain villages in Jatoi Parguna of Bakhar Sarkar(Northern Sindh). They further trespassed on the parganahs of Shikarpur, Khanpur and other villages, that formed the jagir of Mir Abdul-Wasia Khan and would not give any explanation to the said Khan. Miyan Nur Muhammad therefore, sent Thariah, one of his confidential men, to the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah requesting that under the circumstances the jagir might be conferred on him in his own name, and at the same time marched against the Daudpotas. After some hard fought battles he besieged them in the fort of Shikarpur and compelled them to submit. At last a treaty was agreed upon in which that country was divided into four parts (or shares), two shares being given to the original owner of the jagir, one to the Daudpotas and one being retained by the Miyan Nur Muhammad himself, who after taking some hostages, returned to his capital.

The Daudpotas did not long remain quiet. Again and again they rose against the Kalhoras, till in 1726 Miyan Nur Muhammad fixed his residence at Shikarpur and sent his army to extirpate them finally. The army pressed them hard in the Dabli Fort, but through the intercession of some Syeds they abandoned the expedition.

The result of all this was that the land of Nahars, that had lately fallen into the hands of the Daudpotas, came back into the owner’s possession, and the Daudpotas were scattered in confusion over certain parganahs of Multan, e. g. Pahli, the territory of Imam ud-Din Joyah and Farid Khan Lakhwirah, Nain, Bahawalpur, the territory of Hanas Sammah, Patan of Baba Farid and the country near the settlements of the Afghans possibly northern Baluchistan. Within two years, however, they were reduced to straitened circumstances and were obliged to seek service under Miyan Nur Muhammad, who gave them suitable pensions and places in the talukah of Bakhar, which had only recently come into the hands of the Sirais.

Similarly Sheikh Hamid and Sheikh Usman the Ronkahs, noteworthy zamindars of the suburbs of Multan, emigrated to Bakhar and entered the service of the Miyan Nur Muhammad.