Khiazai Baloch Tribe of Rajanpur an Ethnographical Study Through Vernacular Perspective

KHIAZAI BALOCH TRIBE OF RAJANPUR AN ETHNOGRAPHICAL STUDY THROUGH VERNACULAR PERSPECTIVE

Submitted By Faiz Farid Roll No. 02

Supervised by Dr. Abdul Razzaq Shahid

M.Phil History The thesis submitted for the partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Philosophy in History.

Session 2015-2017 Department of History The Islamia University of Bahawalpur

i Table of Contents

Sr# Title Page# I Approval Sheet Ii Certificate Iii Declaration Iv Dedication V Acknowledgement Chapter # Introduction 11-44 1.1 Statement of the problem 1.2 Significance 1.3 Hypothesis 1.4 Methodology 1.5 Organization of thesis 1.6 Literature Review 1.7 History Of Rajanpur 1.8 History of Khiazai Baloch Tribe 1.9 Tribal System of Baloch Chapter Rituals 31-45 No.2 2.1 Birth 2.2 Jhand 2.3 Circumcise 2.4 Engagement 2.5 Marriage 2.6 Dowry 2.7 Role of Meerasi 2.8 Death Rituals from funeral bath to Burials 2.9 Aas Rokh 2.10 Form and Structure of Graves Chapter Customs 46-54 No.3 3.1 Housing 3.2 Animal Housing 3.3 Occupation 3.6 Sports 3.7 Haal Chapter Religious tendecies 55-67 No.4 4.1 Common Religious Belief System 4.2 Religious Festivals 4.3 Famous Saints 4.4 Political Trends 4.5 Role of Khan and Muqadam 4.6 Hudda Chapter Folk Thought 68-92

viii

No.5 5.1 Superstitions 5.1 A Treatment of Diseases 5.1 B Bad Superstitions 5.2 Dreams 5.3 Proverbs 5.4 Riddles 5.5 Dastan Goi Conclusion 93-94 Notes and 95 References Bibliography 96-101 Glossary 102

Chapter No. 1 1.1. INTRODUCTION

Rajan Pur is one of the most remote and far flung areas of the Punjab (Pakistan) and is located in the extreme southwest part of the Punjab with a Geo graphical span of 12319 Sq km. Its land is sand witched by the Indus River on one side while the Sulaiman Mountain range on the other side. It is located on the right bank of Indus and bounded on the northwest by Dera Ghazi Khan (hereafter D.G.Khan), in the east by MuzaffarGarh and Rahim Yar Khan and in the south lies Jacobabad district of Sind. Its Total area is 1863368 acre. The tribal belt is spreaded over an area of 45457 acre.

It has three Tehsils: Rajanpur, Rojhan and Jampur with 69 union councils. Total area of Rojhan Mazari is 2905 sq km. Rojhan Mazari is situated in Rajanpur near the interprovincial border of Balochistan, Sindh and the Punjab. It is connected by Road and Railway to Kashmore in the south west and Rajanpur in the North West. Since 1632 A.D Mazari tribes held this territory. Earlier they were habitant of Banbhbore hills of Present day Kahaan in Blaochistan. In 1836 A.D Rojhan Mazai was invaded and burnt by Sikhs under the leadership of Raja Kharak Singh( death 1840 ) in retaliation of maurding and plundering of the town of Mithan Kot by the then Mazari Chief Behram Khan.

Rajanpur was founded by Makhdoom Shiekh Rajan 1 (1695-1781) a Bukhari syed born at the palce of Seet pur near Muzafar Garh, about 1770 A.D. later on this town was raised to the status of District in 1982. Its inhabitants speak Saraiki however Punjabi, Ranghari, Riyastie, Urdu and Balochi is also spoken and understood by a sizeable population of the area.

Dajjal and Harrand are the famous historical cities of Rajan Pur inhabited by Gorchani Bloch and Lund bloch tribes. It was governed by Khan of Kalat Meer Noori Naseer Khan Baloch till 1827 A.D. Besides this the Baloch tribes of Koh Suaiman including, Marri, Bugtis, Khiazai and Khetran are said to have been under the nominal control of Khan of Kalat. Later on the Nawab of Bahawalpur occupied this area for Sikhs.2

The tribal area of Rajanpur located in the Sulaiman mountain range is a sparsely populated area. It is perhaps the least developed area with Barren Mountain and populated by the tribes which are culturally distinct from the rest of the Punjab. Majority of the people still prefer to spend their life in tents or other temporary dwellings with their

1 families and flocks rather than opting to lead a settled life in the urban areas. These nomadic people can only obtain the crops from small patches of soil scattered throughout the area. When a rain happens to bring water Baloch values derived from the conditions of nomadic life in which their moral ethical code encompasses the main rules of honour, hospitality, asylum and compensation for homicide, growing relations with strangers, refugees, criminals and between man and woman. Their poetry and folklores Halloo’s celebrates exploits and Love. The Khiazai tribe is the less dominant ethnics group in the area. However little is known about them.3

TRIBAL SYSTEM OF BALOCHS

Usually every tribe owned a specific land whether this land is conquered or divided among themselves by the mutual consent of the tribes. For example Meer Jalal Hani after conquering and capturing the Qalat and Balochistan divided theses areas among 44 tribes who were his followers and companions. Generally two principal are followed in the division of such a land. Firstly, the importance of the tribe. Secondly the number and power of its people. Usually, these principles are guiding lines. However, some tribes captured the land of the neighboring tribes, for instance, the Marri tribe expelled Buledi from the territory of Kahan. Similarly Hasni and Afghan tribe Zarkoon were banished from Mavand and Kohlu by force. The land grabbed in this way is considered to be the property of the whole tribe and divided among the male members of the tribe. However if a particular or specific group of the tribe acquired the land by its own efforts then it would be considered as its property and other members of the tribe has no right over it. However the chief/wadera of the tribe given his due share but only he is a beneficiary and can not sell it. Similarly, the booty collected after the battle is distributed on these above mentioned principles.4

Every tribe has a Sardar or Tumundar and Muqadam. They are the nobles and the head of the certain sections of the tribe. All these persons collectively act as a consultative assembly in the times of war and peace. It is obligatory on the Muqadam to collect the men of his section on specific pattern in war times and get them prepared for the battle. He himself chooses the commander of his Gendarame. Like sardar or chief this chair is hereditary and after his tenure or death someone from his close relatives his close relatives held this position due to certain qualities and wishes of the tribe or section of that tribe. This principle is applied on the appointment of jury chiefs or sardars too.5

In every section there is a wadera which is also a hereditary chair. The nobles and elder ones in the tribe wrapped a traditional turban around his head which is the symbol of the fact that he has been bestowed upon with this honor, dignity and responsibility. Usually a wadera works as a bridge and an intermediary link between the members of the tribe and the Muqadam and heads of the various sections of the tribe. Likewise every large section of the tribe have muqadam and a wadera and even the elders and nobles of the family in a section acted as waderas on the smaller scale. In short a tribe has a well defined disciplined structure from top to bottom and from the chief of the tribe to the elder of the family.6

In the times of the emergency a consultative assembly is convened and on the democratic pattern the sessions of discussions are held to sort out the problems and floated the suggestions for the solution of that problem. Decisions by the chief of the tribe and Muqadameen of larger sections about the policies are presented in front of smaller sections of the tribe and after that it is considered the decisions of the whole tribe. For example almost seventy years ago a tribe i.e A tribe which was spreaded approximately over three thousand and Eight Hundred square miles could be gathered and assembled within three days on a specific place when this tribal system was at its zenith.7

Decision for internal strife among the sections of the tribe and murder cases are decided by the chief along with the elders of different sections of the tribe. But the quarrels in the same section of the tribe are usually decided by the chief of that certain section. He summons both parties and listen their grievances and as per his own sense and sagacity and according to law of shariat made the decision and very often the decision is correct because the chief of the section have the sources to collect information through clandestine means. The decision depends upon the character and the honesty of the accused or the pledge or oath taken on the Quran. If the pledge is taken then decision is made upon this solemn pledge. As when the tribal system was implemented in letter and spirit then the chief of the tribe, chief of the sections and elders of the families (wadera’s) decision were accepted without if and buts and without ill will and their verbal decisions were accepted and implemented . But due to change of circumstances and after the implementation of frontier crimes regulation, 1901, there is much more Government interference and even now the idea behind the decisions made in the Jirgas is changed now. In order to avoid long period of imprisonment, false vows, wrong testimonies, bribes, partiality and biasness are the talk of the town. Now it has become a hotch potch it

3 is neither the earlier position of Jirga nor the Government rules or regulations are implemented as they could be. Resultantly chaos have been created in the field of justice, law and peace affairs.8

1.2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Khiazai is considered to be an organized baloch tuman which occupies the angle between the frontiers of the Punjab and Upper Sindh. Khiazai or Shambani is considered to be a clan of Bugti tribe by majority of the researchers and is an almost independent section it separates the Bugti tribe from the border of district Rajanpur. They are made up of various elements, chiefly Rind, but claim descent from Mir Chakar, who’s descendent Khia gave his name to it. This clan is believed to have supernatural powers (Pakheeri), which is sometimes considered distinct quality of this tribe. This tuman has its head-quarters at Syahaf, formerly Marrao or Dera Bibrak, also called Bugti area. Mr. M. Longe worth Dams declared that the Lund and Shambani tribes are the off- springs of two real brothers, which is absolutely rejected by Khiazai and Shambani people. On the other hand the names given by Mr. Dames in the genealogical table are so unfamiliar and unknown that the people of this tribe did not recognize and absolutely disowned it right away. In the real sense the blunder committed by British researchers is genuine as there was hardly any educated person who could guide them about Khiazai’ origin. Another possibility was that the Bugti Chief at that time was politically strong. So they knowingly imparted wrong information about Khiazai’ and declared it as a rebellious sub tribe of Bugties and that animosity can be traced back to the times of Nawab Sir Shahbaz Khan Bugti who was educated and politically mature enough to mend the ways according to his own intensions and more politically stronger than Khiazai. That is why most of the times they dominated over the Khiazai. Khiazai were always introduced to the British Authorities as criminal and rebellion. Bugtis assured the British Indian Government that Khiazai tribe is neither separate nor independent baloch tribe but a sub tribe or a section of Bugtis. Secondly they are not loyal to British Government and on account of this narrative all the noblemen and sardars of Khiazai tribe were interned, most of the time, by Britishers. In this way, sardar Gohram Khan Khiazai 1st was Jailed who was released on account of production of one hundred and one camel of five years old which belong to the same breed and those were arranged and produced by Bakhar Shambani who was residing in Khiazai tribe’s vicinity and given asylum by Sardar Gohram Khan 1st, Bakhar

Shambani was opportunist and had the opportunity to come into close contact with the Government officials that was the very reason that the British authorities in their official document wrote Shambani instead of Khiazai Tuman. Similarly, Sardar Sobdar Khan 1st who was arrested by the then Magistrate Sardar Mehrab Khan Bugti on charges of theft of two camels and sentenced him along with Fourteen people, he was interned in Ajmer Jail and in 1922, he was given poison, and buried in the courtyard of Ajmer Jail. During the time of trail, Wahid Bux Khiazai Tawakli Rehan Zai who was the grandson of Bahawlan Khan and Sooni Bibi who was grandmother of Dad Muhammad Khan Khiazai did splendid and meritorious services and left no stone unturned to fight for the release of Sardar Sobdar Khan 1st in the British Courts. Besides this she runs the helm of affairs of tribe successfully and gallantly, with utmost sincerity and integrity and tried to convince the British Goverment that they are not of a rebellious nature and didn’t commit any mischievous activities. In those days, Mir Hamza Khan Khiazai was killed by Sardar Mehrab Khan Bugti in 1937 and the relation between Bugti and Khiazai become more worsened and the animosity was reached at its peak later on the roller coaster approach was being followed by these tribes in terms of their relation with each other. During Ayub and Bhutto regime there was a time, when Khiazai tuman got united under the leadership of Sardar Meerhza Khan Khiazai and started fight with Bugti in the area of Lope which lasted for nineteen days. No one from either side was killed. Bugti retreated on account of unity and discipline showed by the Khiazai’. This was the last fight until now. Mr. Shadoo Khan Khiazai the resident of Kotla Naseer was also participant of that battle. Through this fight, the Khiazai proved their politically and military superiority over Bugti tribe. Now a days relations between both tribes are normalized and they have come close to each other. Even the elders of Saidani and Khiazai participated in Jirgas being convened under the chieftainship of Nawab Akbar Bugti (Late).9

In fact, we can trace the origin of Khiazai tribe from the Rind tribe. Sardar Bejar Khan Son of Sardar Peeroz shah was bestowed upon the chieftainship of the Phouzh tribe,10 a sub-tribe of Rind in reward of services rendered by him as an ally of Meer Chakar-e-Azam in the battle of Nalee(11). Later on Beejar Khan was killed in an attempt to throw away the malik Sohrab Khan dodai’s descendent (Dodai Baloch) who held the helm of affairs in D.G.Khan. Then they settled down in Dara Zangi in the north of Rojhan and made it the center of his tribal activities. For four generations, they are leading a settled life. Here is

Meer Aali’ grave also that is still a visiting place for the people and that place is called Dara’ Aali to honor his services. (12)

There they got themselves entangled with Chandia tribe who forced them to move away from this specific place. Now they got themselves settled in the area of Khechi. This is said to be the period of Sardar Khea Khan. Many people were entering into this tribe. In the meanwhile the chief of Hasni Tribe forced them to give him the Poori upon this the relation between two tribes become worsening as Khia Khan was of the view that being the chief of his own independent tribe, he is entitled to collected Poori Legally. The bloody Skirmishes forced Khiazai tribe to shift towards the fertile Land of SANG SEELA near Dera Bugti. Some of his descendent left over there on the condition that they would give Poori to Hasni chief now a day in the suburb area of Kachee (located in the west of kalat). They scattered here and there and presently their language is Barohi. Now a day a good number of Khiazai are living in the areas of Quetta Dasht Khuzdar, Lasbaila, Qalat, Makran, boundary areas of Balochistan, Iran’s province of Tuftan and the areas of Afghanistan where Persian Language is spoken. The area Halab of Syria and the Kurds of Iraq portray themselves as the descendant of Meer Beezar Khan and are called Balosi Kurd. In the times of Sardar Meer Shah Zain the account of the severe drought forced them to shift towards Sanghar from Sang Seela. Again the issue of Chieftainship and Poori become the reason of clashes with Kalhora tribe (1681-1783) and moved towards the Land of Dera Bugti called Siah Aaf except the Shahdaad brother of Shah Zain. The city of Shahdaad Pur of Sind is after the name of Shahdaad. Their language is mixture of Sindi and Balochi and their customs, traditions and rituals are still on the pattern of Khiazai tribe. They were followed by Kalhora’ and on the place of Peer Chahtah the shah Zain khiazai and his six important men were killed but they forced the Kalhora chief to retreat and go back to their homes.(13)

The climate of that area did not prove to be conducive and after some years Sardar Gohram ordered his tribes men to shift towards Tusoo a 35 Kilometers away from Dera Bugti in the eastern side which was already under the suzerainty of Shah Jaskani. Besides Siah Off, Zangi, Aali Tusoo Soori, Bhea, Doti, Lashkar, was under the possession of Khiazai tribe. In the meanwhile the Khan of Kalat who was bullied by to mischievous acts of Hasni tribe asked Mari and Bugti tribe to attack on Hasni tribe and forced them to move from here. Sadiq Hasni the chief of Hasni tribe was killed and his younger brother Seeran who was maternal uncle of the chief of Khiazai tribe escaped away after some days. (14)

The population of Khiazai tribe began to increase when other tribes began to join them and called themselves Khiazai. After some year the inhabitant of Kechi whose chief was Sadiq Hasni forced Khiazia people to submit Poori. On this issue there developed the conflict. The Khiazai chief thought that only he is entitled to collect/receive Poori from his tribe. In the light of this hostile atmosphere they were forced to migrate from here and camped at Sangsila near Dera Bugti which was a fertile land. However his two sons were left at Kechi on the condition that they would pay Poori to Hasni Chief and would be called as Hasnies. That is why Khiazai are found in large number in surrounding areas of Kechi and they speak Broohi language. They still show their loyality to Khiazai chief and approached the present chief Sardar Sobdar Khan for the settlement of their tribal and family disputes.(15) Later on, on account of famine and drought they migrated from Sangsilla to Sanghar (Sind). After some time they came into conflict with Kalhora’s of Sind (1681 to 1783) and consequently were forced to leave Sind on the issue of Poori. The younger brother of Shah Zain whose real name was Shahdad remained there and rest of the people of the tribe left the place and stationed at siah-off near Dera Bugti. A number of Khiazai are still found in Shehdad Pur and their language is the mixture of Sindi and Balochi Dialect. However they are strictly follower of their traditional culture. In the bloody battle of Pir Chattah Mir Shah Zain and his six important companion were killed and buried at Pir Chatta. After some years the tribe left the place because the people of the tribe could not acclamatize with the hostile, adverse and un favourable weather conditions and migrated towards tusso which is 35 km in the east of Dera Bugti which was already inhabited by Shah Jaskanis and lived there with peace and harmony and inter married with them.(16)

In 1780 the Khan of Qalat Mir Naseer Khan was fed up with the mischievous tactics, plundering and looting of hasni tribe, he persuaded the Marri and Bugti tribe to join him and fight with the Hasni tribe and inflicted a crushing defeat on them at their head quarter Philawagh. The Hasni chief was slain and his tribe was scattered and force to wonder from door to door. However is younger brother sheeran who was the maternal uncle of Khiazai chief was able to escape. After few days Sheeran called the Khiazai c hief with some prominent personalities of the tribe at some secret place and sold his ancestral land for only Rs.60/- in addition to this area of philawagh, kulchas were occupied by Bugti and

Marri tribe.17

The locals of the area i.e. Gorchani fed up with the new intruders and immigrants and migrated towards the boundary area of the Punjab Maari and Harrand etc. The remaing Gorchanis and Pitafi either dispersed or merged into Khiazai, Shambani and Bugti. It is believed that khoryani section of Bugti tribe is in fact Gorchani who later on accepted the suzerainty of Bugti tribe.

After the destruction of Lope, the Khiazai settled there permanently and the remaining people of Hasni tribe absorbed in Khiazai tribe. The kalanganri in Khiazai, Darwani in Shambani and Pusht Dar and Karchoor in Saidani are the remains of Hasni tribe and now they have accepted the suzerainty of Khiazai tribe.

Meanwhile, the Shah Jaskani and Sardar Beavergh Bugti being afraid of the emerging power and supremacy of Khiazai Chief conspired with the Government which was Sikh Shahi and make attempts against Khiazai tribe and assured the Sikhs that the Khiazai were the rebellion. Consequently the Sikh Government investigated the matter. The Bugti Chief Sardar Bevragh and the Jaskani Chief Baloch Khan tried to persuade the Sikh delegates that they were the chief of the tribe and the Khiazai were the new entrants. On the other hand Khiazai tribe occupied the said area before the entrance of Bugti tribe in this particular area.

Similarly the Khiazai chief also tried to persuade the ruling elite that the Bugti tribe came here after their settlement. So established right of huge money of the Khiazai tribe be acknowledged and official assistance be provided. On the opposite side the chief of Shah Jaskani and Sardar Beveragh who was the brother in law of Gohram Khan Khiazai has a soft corner for the Khiazai. After the death of Gohram Khan his young son Peroz Shah who was nephew of Shah Jaskani was nominated the chief of the tribe. On the other hand, the Government dispatched another delegation in order to ascertain/understand the ground realities of the said area. The delegates met Sardar Balaach Jaskani who was claiming to be the sole chief of the area and sent back the delegates. On their return they met the Peroz Shah unexpectedly and he introduced and showed the legal documents which was bestowed upon his father by the Royal Sikh Government (1799-1849) in written form.

Sardar Bevergh Bugti, the chief of Bugti tribe, misunderstood that the Government authorities were annoyed and angry with him and could arrest him at any time, so, he was hesitant and reluctant to meet or visit the delegate. Similarly the turbulent people of his

8 tribe often involved in the plundering and steeling of the herds and cattle and quarreled with the neighboring tribes such as Khosa, Jakhrani, Marri and Buledi etc.

When the Sikh Government inquired about Heinous acts or crimes occurred in the area, Beveragh usually ascribed all these nefarious acts to Sardar Khia Khan. So it is said that once a Government Caravans of Camel passing through that area, was being attacked and looted by some Bugtis, as a result the Shah Jaskani and Bugti Sardar were called upon by the Government authorities to explain their point of view and position but instead of showing their presence they persuaded Sardar Khia Khan to go over there as the Government authorities would bestow upon him the gifts and wealth. So Gohram Khan 2nd the son of Peroz Shah went over there and got himself arrested by the Government authorities and imprisoned. A heavy penalty was imposed upon him that he would be released if he handed over the theft goods and cattle beside a further guarantee of the safe passage be provided. In the meanwhile the Bakhar Shambani met with officials and fulfilled their condition of presenting the one hundred and one camel of same breed aging up to 5 years. In this way Gohram Khan 2nd was released. For Government official this was the raison de’ eter and a crystal clear proof of the chieftainships of Khiazai Sardar and now the Government authorities were of the view that he could manage all the affairs in this turbulent area and be a legal and legitimate contender for leadership of the inhabitant of this area. While it should be remembered that Bakhar Shambani at Jhal Magsi was annoyed with his tribe and migrated towards siah-off. But Sardar Bevergh Bugti displaced him from there and he was settled in beeh Looti sher and dashgoram and absorbed in Khiazai tribe and became section of this tribe.18

At the time of his death sardar peroz shah according to his testate all the agricultural land should be inherited by Gohram Khan 2nd all the sheep and cattle should be given to Shahoo and Pakheeri and saint hood bestowed upon Hamza Khan. Because Hamza was grandson of shah suleman jaskani and always remained a seclusive and darvesh. After recognizing his proclivities and tendencies his father gave him the honor of Pakheeri and bestowed upon a cloak and a stick to Hamza Khan and said that no one would be cogent in your sainthood and Pakheeri and advised his son that in case of any trouble and trial his Pakheeri would be beneficial to you where upon all the section of Khiazai would sought help from Hamza through intuition. His grave in tusso i.e. his ancestral city. While peroz shah’s grave is in Marav. 19

MAZARI AGAINST KHIAZAI.

Khiazais got entangled with Mazaris during the regin of Hamal Khan Mazari (1681-1727) who was reported to be a mischievous and often quarreled with neighboring tribe. In his reign Khiazai tribe came down from their own mountains Land and settled at Koh Gayandri and lived with Mazari tribe. In the meanwhile Mazari snatched some cattle & looted and plundered some wealth Khiazai men chased them but Mazari’s took away and the looted wealth. 20

DARISHAK SARDAR

Darishak Sardar Shahak Khan gathered a Lashker and looted and plundered the wealth of Khiazai tribe and killed Hango Khan Khiazai and a Mazari. Mazari Sardar chased Darishak and their 15 people were murdered. In this way fight started between Shahak Khan Darishak and Hamal Khan Mazari which resulted many bloody skirmishes. In the meanwhile Gohram Khan Khiazai attacked Mazaris and murdered their camel and plundered their wealth.

Mithan Khan Mazari III (1727-1760) fed up of the plundering of Khiazai and retaliated in the shape of preparation of “Big Army” of his tribesmen attacked Koh-e-Siah the place of Khiazai and killed two sons of Khiazai Sardar and fourty other Khiazai men and looted and snatched the cattle and wealth.

Hamal Khan Mazari’s son was murdered by Meerhza khan Khiazai and it was the custom of Balochi people that when they murdered their arch rival in a battle then they named their new born child after the name of their arch rival who was slain in the battlefield. So when Hamal Khan’s son Meer Dost Khan was murdered in “Shahi Damaan” battle the massif was named after him i.e. Meer Dost Ka Gorukh”. It was known that Meer Dost has such a mare who crosses the arduous peaks and attacked the Khiazai tribe on constant basis. During the course of war in Damaan, a Kakangani Khiazai whose name was Salar aimed at the eye of Sardar Meer Dost and he died at the spot. Another person Salar who was Saidani (Boni) also claimed that he murdered Meer Dost Mazari. Hot words were exchanged as the both were claiming to shot. Salar Kalangani said that he used to tie a vein with the arrow so later on his claim was proved true and Sardar Meerza Khan Khiazai asked him what he wants would be granted as he did murder his biggest enemy. He replied that please gave me the “Hudaa” for stoppage of bleeding from wounds in the

10 battlefield which was granted to him. This is still associated with this family. Even today they just put their saliva with their hands on the bleeding wound and astonishingly the bleeding stops.(21)

Sardar Meerza Khan Khiazai named his son Meer Dost who later became very famous warrior like his father and continued his tribe’s struggle and warfare tactics against Mazaris. He was very famous soldier once Khiazai tribe took a large herd of camel of Mazaris, snatched their swords and horses. The Mazaris returned with a force of 12000 and proverb floated “Mazari Bara Hazari”. On the way through Nala Soort his army reached at the place of Abnand Thak. On the way there was a narrow strip of Pass and deep water. They took small stones on their horses and put them into deep stagnant water. It took them one week to clear the path. At the place of Lotave the famous pleat Meer Dost Goragh, the forces of Meer Dost were encamped. At once Mazari forces attacked on Khiazais and all of a sudden Meer Dost and nine other people were killed and the rest of tribesmen were scattered and their cattle were taken away by Mazari. His younger brother Kaichi and Gohram migrated in the vicinity of Mari tribe which is called Kahan. It should be remembered that these three brothers were the nephew of Mari tribe who have developed an animosity with Bugti tribe. The Khiazai tribe became weak. In these days Kaichi and Gohram lived in Kahan. Now Kaichi has become a leader of Khiazai tribe but he was an inept and incompetent Leader. It was his brother Gohram Khan who was a man of qualities emerges stronger again. Kaichi’s son Meerza Khan II and his uncle Gohram Khan did a tremendous job to reunite their tribesmen and again attacked the Mazari and made a solemn pledge that they would not wrap/put traditional Sardar (Pug) turban around the head of Sardar Meerza Khan Khiazai until they took revenge of their assailed head Meer Dost Khan Khiazai. The traditional tribal Jirga was sent to them as a Meerh Menat But Sardar Gohram Khan refused to make peace with them. Now Khiazai started a

Guerilla Warfare tactics against Mazari and inflicted a heavy loss to Mazari tribe.(22)

Once Gohram Khan met Mitha Khan Mazari, the son of Hamal Khan, at place captured by Gohram Khan Khiazai he took a razor and made a cut on his little finger of right hand and asked him to go away as his tender age did not allow him to kill him cold bloodedly. But convey his message to his father“I am Gohram Khan Khiazai and I am sparing you because at this old age and unhealthy condition of your father Mitha Khan, who will not bear the grief of his young son’s death. He further said that try to compromise with

Khaizai otherwise no one will be spared in Mazari Clan and consequently there would be no the successors of the Pug of Mazari.

On his return, Mitha Khan put everything before his father Hamal Khan. At that time 60 Mazari were killed and 40 more were needed to be killed to fulfill the pledge of Khiazai in order to kill the 100 Mazari in retaliation of killing of their beloved Sardar Meer Dost Khan Khiazai. At last Hamal Khan Mazari with the help of the Gorchani, Jakhrani, Darishak, Lund and Mari tribal chiefs forced Gohram Khan to make a peace deal and truce with Mazari tribe. Khiazai and Shambani who lived in Rohri continued their Guerilla warfare and killed more 40 Mazari to fulfill their promise. This animosity continued and after break of some time again continued at last Mazari were forced to set aside/broke their promise of truce and peace and took away with them the herd of sheep and Goats of Kalani Shambani at the place of “Zamardaan”. (23)

It was a time when the hostility between Bugti and Mazari was at its peak. The truce between Mazari and Khiazai lasted for a good span of time. Rancor in the minds of Meerhza Khan and Gohram Khan against the Mazaris did not reduce. Shahmeer son of Jamu Shambani who was a Wadera of Shambani tribe did consultation with Gohram and Meerhza Khan and floated the suggestion to make endeavor to seek the help of Bugti and attack the Mazari. At that time Mazari sardar was Behram Khan (1796-1831), they took away “zingi jah” and then decided to attack Rojhan Mazari which was the heart of Mazari tribe. But Khiazai sardars went against this suggestion and put forward the idea that 1st of all they should attack and plunder city of “Baadli” which was in east of Rojhan. When Behram Khan Mazari chased us at the place of “Pattee” Then on account of intensity of hunger and thirst their strength and power will be weakened and we will crush them. Then Bugti and Khiazai attacked under leadership of Nawab Salman Khan Bugti, Gohram Khan Khiazai ransacked the city of “Badlee” and upon their return the Sardar Behram Mazari chased them at “Pattee” and bloody & fierce fight took place for three days when famous warrior of Mazari tribe Qadoo Khairo was murdered then the Mazari lose their heart and retreated. At least 120 Mazari were dead along with 40 Bugti and Khiazai. The Khiazai took away the Arsnels and Horses of Mazaris as a booty with them. Dola Dariya sword which is very sharp also taken away by Khiazai tradition floated that this specific sword was given by a Khiazai Sardar to his daughter as a consign. Who was married with Mazari Sardar when he came to know about the historical importance of this sword, he refused to return it to Khiazai. Sardar inherited it as a symbol of chieftainships

Bijar Khan Darikshak (1827-1858)

Bijar Khan dreshak attacked on Bugtis,Marri, Jakhrani and Buledee’s and made alliance with Dost Ali Khan and imam Bux Mazari. Once Mari men along with Ali Sher Masoori attacked town of Aaqil Pur and took away the camel in 1848. During the mutiny days Bijar Khan Darishak was made responsible to look after the areas ranging from Suri Pass to Chachar. In the meanwhile Mari tribe under the leadership of Gohram Khan Khiazai, Shambani with a force of 400 men attacked on the areas adjoin to border. Upon this Bijar Khan Darishak along-with Jahan Khan Gorchani (Risaldar) posted at Dirigri near Bakhir Pur, Musa Khan Leghari (Jamadar) and Shiekh Mehboob Ali Thanidar Dajal Police station chased the Gohram Khan Khiazai forces near about 1859. They were two time hundred in strength. They met Ghoram Khan Khiazai forces at the place of Pass Bhagri which is near to Farid air Base in Kot Sabzal. A fierce battle took place as Ghoram Khan Khiazai’ men were in great numbers they killed Bijar Khan Darishak and his son Dareehan Khan along with forty Darishak men and in a hurry they took arms, a lot of wealth with them except few herds of cattle.

CONCLUSION

Khiazai baloch tribe is an important baloch tribe of Rajan Pur. They are found in various parts of Pakistan however majority is resisded in the suburb areas of Rajan Pur. They are illiterate, simple tone and majority is leading a miserable nomadic life wandering here and there with their herds. Due to this abject poverty and malnutrition they are facing health problems. They and their cattle quench their thirst from the same pond. They have been observed in rages with poor health.

It has been observed during survey that they are very careful about their weapons and women. Having no penny they keep rifle with them similarly their women observe Perdastrictly. Their elders and young both are fond of smoking and tea. Apparently they seems to be healthy because in their daily life they use herbs-shrubs,wild-vegetables, pure Gee and Pure milk of their goats. Walking with their herds is their usual exercise. However they are rude and non cooperative with the strangers, no hospitality,nor welcome to the guests because they wish to lead their isolated life. They still have joint family system and obey the orders of their elders in their house hold affairs. In the foregoing pages we have discussed how much religious they are. They donot say five times prayers regularly and keep away from fasting.In fact their religious life revolves around omens and superstitions. Majority of Khiazai’s believed in Pir’s prayers however a few are wahabi’s. Overall they are the followers of their century’s old customs and traditions. Living in a saraiki belt besides their mother tongue they speak saraiki. Despite speaking saraiki language no other saraiki cultural influence has yet been observed. It leads us to conclude that how much they are attached to their centuries old cultural traditions

Presently the tribal system of Baloch is at decay & degenerating since the last century and now the situation is that common laws of Govt. could be implemented upon the tribal people with due care & activities. There is no doubt that in the past Jirga system was the most cheap system of attaining the Justice & discipline but in the meanwhile this system is the cause of tribal feuds, animosity & quarrels among different tribes and a main hindrance in the way of development of Education Sector and enlightenment. Anyhow with the passage of time the external, political and social effects have changed the way of thinking & ideology of a common man and resultantly now the influence of chief of the tribe and chief of the sections faded away.

The British Govt. bestowed upon the tribal chiefs with pecuniary benefits, financial grants and other facilities and made repeated attempts to preserve this tribal system so that they can control different tribes through their chiefs. But after the creation of Pakistan the outdated ideology of Britishers has been changed and now the time has come or it is not far away that this system will be vanished & faded away and instead of it the Govt. has a direct laison with the people of the tribal belt and they will consider themselves a common citizen of this land of pure.