World Library

My Account | Register | Help

Select Language

My Dashboard
Get Published
HomeBooksSearchSupportAbout UsGet Published
Most Popular

New Releases

Top Picks

Kid 25's

eBook Finder...
Search

CATEGORIES

Gujar Khan Tehsil

Gujar Khan Tehsil
Kahuta Tehsil
Kahuta Tehsil
Pakistan, Rawalpindi District, Pakistan Standard Time, Kahuta, Kallar Syedan Tehsil,
Jhelum River
Janjua

Janjua
Khakha, Arjuna, Gaharwal, Ranjit Singh, Akbar, Ambassador
Gujrat District
Gujrat District
Muslim, Pakistan, Mughal Empire, Gujrat city, Gujar, Sikh Empire
India
India
Oxford University Press, Government of India, Routledge, World Bank, BBC News,
Encyclopdia Britannica
SUGGESTIONS

Awan (tribe)
Awan (tribe)
Nishan-e-Haider, Islam, Sindh, Caliph, Sakesar, Punjabi language
Demography of Rawalpindi District
Demography of Rawalpindi District
Satti, Janjua, Gakhars, Jasgam, Bhakral, Khattar
Jat Muslim
Jat Muslim
Punjabi language, Sindhi language, Haryanvi language, Punjab region, Jats of Azad
Kashmir, Jats of Sindh
Mekan clan

Mekan clan
Hindu, Rajput, Sargodha District, Jhelum District, Gujrat District, Mandi Bahauddin
District
Khamb
Khamb
Kathiawar, Turkic peoples, Barlas, Jhelum District, Gujrat District, Sargodha District
RELATED BOOKS

TRIBES AND CLANS OF THE POTHOHAR PLATEAU

HELP IMPROVE THIS ARTICLE
Sourced from World Heritage Encyclopedia licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Help to improve this article, make contributions at the Citational Source
23520650

PrevNext
TRIBES AND CLANS OF THE POTHOHAR PLATEAU

The Potohar plateau, sometimes pronounced Pothohar Plateau (Urdu: ) ,

is a large region of plateau situated in northern Punjab, Pakistan. It is bounded on the
east by the Jhelum River, on the west by the Indus River, on the north by the Kala Chitta
Range and the Margalla Hills, and on the south by the Salt Range.[1]
The region roughly covers the modern-day Punjab districts of Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum
and Rawalpindi and the Islamabad Capital Territory.

CONTENTS
1 Tribes of the region
2 Ahir
3 Awan
4 Bains
5 Bangial
6 Bhakral
7 Bhatti
8 Budhal
9 Chatha
10 Chauhan
11 Cheema
12 Chhina
13 Chib
14 Dhamial (Jat) and Dhamial (Rajput)
15 Dhanial
16 Dhund
17 Dulal
18 Gakhar
19 Gungal
20 Gujjar

21 Hattar
22 Hon
23 Jalap
24 Janjua
25 Jat
25.1 Aura
25.2 Ranyal
26 Jatal
27 Jethal
28 Jhammat
29 Kahut
30 Kalyal
31 Kanyal
32 Kassar
33 Khatarmal
34 Kethwal
35 Khamb
36 Khattar
37 Khatril
38 Khichi
39 Khingar

40 Khokhar rajput
41 Khoti
42 Langrial
43 Lilla
44 Mair-Minhas and Minhas
45 Maliar
46 Mekan
47 Mughal
48 Nagyal
49 Panwar
50 Paracha
51 Pashtun/Pathan
51.1 Sagri Khattak Pathans
51.2 Chhachh Pathans
51.3 Pathans in Rawalpindi District
52 Qureshi
53 Rajput
53.1 Dogar or Dogra
53.2 Kahial
53.3 Khambal
53.4 Kurar

53.5 Mial
53.6 Nagral & Nagrawal
53.7 Ramal
54 Ranial
55 Ratial
56 Sandhu
57 Satti
58 Sarral
59 Shaikh
60 Thathal
61 See also
62 References
TRIBES OF THE REGION
The Pothohar region is home to a number of tribal groupings, many of whom occupy
distinct tracts. The Jhelum District Gazetteer gave the following account of the tribal
groupings at the beginning of the 20th century.
The population is generally clearly sub-divided into tribes (quoms or zats), having a
common name and generally supposed to be descended from a traditional common
ancestor by agnatic descent, i.e through males only.... Almost every tribe is again subdivided into clans (muhi), or smaller groups of agnates, distinctly recognized as
descended from a somewhat remote ancestor and usually bearing a common name.[2]
More recent works by the British anthropologist Pnina Werbner have confirmed the
continuing strength of tribal feelings among emigrant Pothoharis in the United Kingdom.
[3] This region was and still is an important source of recruitment into the old colonial

British Indian army, and its successor, the Pakistan Army.[4] Official recruitment policies
have also encouraged the sense of tribal belonging among the Pothoharis.[5]
The present Chakwal District was created out of the merger Talagang Tehsil of Attock
District and Chakwal Tehsil of Jhelum District in 1985. The Islamabad Capital Territory
was carved out of Rawalpindi District in 1959.[6][7][8]
AHIR
The Aheer have been referred to as "an ordinary Musalman peasents, like their
neighbours."[9] They are essentially a tribe of the Thal region, with villages in Khushab,
Sargodha and Mianwali districts.In the Pothohar region, the Aheer have a small
presence, with just two villages, Bher Ahir and Ahir in the Gujar Khan Tehsil.
AWAN

Most Awans maintain they are descended from Qutb Shah, a ruler of Herat and a
general in the army of Mahmud of Ghazni, who was a Hashemite descendant of the
Prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, Ali (but by a wife other than the Prophet's
daughter, Fatimah).
It is asserted that Qutb Shah and six of his sons accompanied and assisted Mahmud in
his early 11th-century conquests of what today forms parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan and
Northern India. It is claimed that in recognition of their services and valour, Mahmud
bestowed upon Qutb Shah and his sons (who, according to tribal traditions, settled
primarily in the Salt Range) the title of Awan, meaning "helper".[10]
BAINS
The Bains Jat claim descent from the Janjua Rajputs, who are also a major clan of the
region.
BANGIAL

The Bangial are a Rajput tribe, closely related to the Baghial tribe. Members of the tribe
in the Rawalpindi District are identify themselves as Rajputs, while those in Gujrat,
Gujranwala, Jhelum, and Mirpur refer to themselves as Jats. Their first ancestor to
convert to the Islamic faith was a Bangash Khan, who also seen as an ancestor by the
Baghial tribe. They describe themselves as being of Panwar Rajput origin, as do the
Baghial, Bhakral and Hon Rajputs, all four being found mainly in the Potohar region and
Azad Kashmir.
BHAKRAL
The Bhakral are a large Rajput tribe found in the Gujar Khan and Kahuta tehsils of
Rawalpindi District, as well as Jhelum and Chakwal districts.
BHATTI
The Bhatti (or Bhati) are a Rajput Yaduvanshi clan and is one of the largest tribes
among Rajputs.
The state of Jaisalmer was positioned right on the route from Afghanistan to Delhi.
Taking advantage of this strategic position, the Bhattis levied taxes on the passing
caravans. The Bhatti are then said to have spread to the Punjab,Sindh and beyond, to
Afghanistan. The city of Ghazni was named after a brave Bhatti warrior. The exact date
of the migration of the Bhatti, into the Pothohar region is unknown. They now are found
in every district, barring the hill tehsil of Murree and Kotli Sattian.
BUDHAL
The Budhal are a clan of the Awan tribe, but is closely associated with the Bhakral
Rajputs. Both clans are said to come across the Jhelum River, from Jammu and
Kashmir. They occupy a block of villages, in Gujar Khan Tehsil.
CHATHA
The Chatha are a large Jat tribe, found mainly in Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Gujrat
districts. In Jhelum District, the villages of Chatha and Chak Chatha are centres of the

tribe. In Rawalpindi District, the village of Hakim Chatha is an important centre of the
tribe, as is Chatha Bakhtawar in the Islamabad Capital Territory.
CHAUHAN

The Chauhan is a Rajput clan. Prithvi Raj, the last Hindu ruler of North India, belonged
to the clan. According to their bardic traditions, the Chauhan are one of the four
Agnivanshi or 'fire sprung' tribes who were created by the gods in the Agni kund or
"fountain of fire" on Mount Abu to fight against the Asuras or demons.
CHEEMA
The Cheema are a well-known Jat clan, found mainly in Gujranwala and Sialkot
districts. In the Pothohar region, they occupy a lone village, Sui Cheemian in Gujar
Khan Tehsil.
CHHINA
The Chhina.
CHIB
The Chib are a Rajput tribe.
DHAMIAL (JAT) AND DHAMIAL (RAJPUT)
The Dhamial (Jat) and Dhamial (Rajput) both claim to be Janjua Rajputs, by origin.
They should not be confused with the Dhanyal, who are entirely distinct tribe.
DHANIAL
The Dhanial occupy the Karor illaqa of Murree Tehsil, as well as the adjoining areas of
the Islamabad Capital Territory.[11]
DHUND

The Dhund Abbasis,their surname is Abbasi,theyare the most prominent of the Muree
Hill tribes, and make up the bulk of the population of the Murree Tehsil.[12] Their tribal
tradition is that they are descended from Abbas, the uncle of the Prophet Mohammad.
They own sixty villages in Murree Tehsil, and four in the Islamabad Capital Territory.
There are therefore different traditions as to the origin of this tribe. It is only found in
Murree and the neighbouring parts of Azad Kashmir and the Hazara Division. Uniquely,
they speak a particular dialect of Pothohari, which is referred to as Dhundi-Kairali.[12]
DULAL
The Dulal are a small tribe, confined to the Gujar Khan Tehsil of Rawalpindi District.
They claim to be Qureshi Arabs, and occupy a number of villages near the town of
Mandrah, the main ones being Hachari Dulal, Nathu Dulal, Noor Dulal, Pharwala Dulal,
Narali, Bhattian and Kuri Dulal.[13] They should not be confused, by the Dulal branch of
the Janjua, who are entirely distinct.
GAKHAR
In Jhelum District, the Gakhar are found mainly in Dina Tehsil. They hold the most of the
Khuddar circle, and in addition the clans already referred to, the Tulial have five villages,
near Dina.
GUNGAL
The Gungal are a tribe, that claims Chandravanshi Rajputs. In Attock District, the village
of Gangal in Fateh Jang Tehsil is an important village.
In Rawalpindi District, the villages of Gungal and Sood Gungal, in Rawalpindi Tehsil, are
important centres of the tribe. Gungal is Gujar Khan Tehsil, and Bimma Gungal in
Kahuta Tehsil are also important villages.
The Gungal in Jhelum District consider themselves to be Jats, and their main village is
Gungal. Mohra Gungal near Kallar Syden and Mak village is also important centres of
Gungal tribes.They claims the gangal is Bhatti Rajput.

GUJJAR
The origins of the Gujjars are uncertain.[14] The Gujjar clan appeared in northern India
about the time of the Huna invasions of northern India. Some scholars, such as V. A.
Smith,believed that the Gujjars were foreign immigrants, possibly a branch of
Hephthalites ("White Huns").[15] Devadatta Ramakrishna Bhandarkar|D. B. Bhandarkar
(18751950) believed that Gujjars came into India with the Hunas, and the name of the
tribe was sanskritized to "Gurjara".[16] He also believed that several places in Central
Asia, such as "Gurjistan", are named after the Gujars and that the reminiscences of
Gujar migration is preserved in these names.[16] General Cunningham identified the
Gujjars with Yuezhi or Tocharians.[17]
In the past, Gujjars and Khatris have also been hypothesized to be descended from the
nomadic Khazar tribes, although the history of Khazars shows an entirely different
politico-cultural ethos[18] In Gazetteer of Bombay Presidency, the British civil servant
James M. Campbell identified Gujars with Khazars.
Some Gujjars also claim that the Gujjar tribe is related to the Chechens and the
Georgians, and argue that Georgia was traditionally called "Gujaristan" (actually
Gorjestan).[19][19][20] However, there is little evidence for such claims. The word
"Georgia" derived from the Arabic and Persian word Gurj, and not Gujjar or Gurjar.[21]
[22]
However "Gujjar" has come from "Gurjar", a sanskrit word that has been explained thus:
Gur+Ujjar; "Gur" means "enemy" and "ujjar" means "destroyer". The word means
"Destroyer of the enemy".[23] The word "Gurjar" predicts the qualities of a warrior
community.[24]
The Gujjar form a tribal element in the Pothohar region. The Jhelum District Gazetteer
noted that:
Throughout the Salt Range tract, and probably under the eastern hills also, they are the
oldest inhabbitants among the tribes settled here. It is not possible to go much further
than this with certainty, but this may be added, whatever the country from which they

originally migrated, the first settlers district are an offshoot of the Gujjars of the
neighbouring district of Gujrat ... The Gujjars of Jhelum differ entirely in character from
that idle, thievish and cowardly race, their fellow Gujjars of the southern districts: here
undoubtedly the best all-round cultivators which the district can boast.[25]
The Gujjar are split into several clans, the main ones are the Kalas, Gorsi, Kasana,
Bargat, Khatana, Chechi, Chauhan, Sidh, Barra, Gajgahiya, Amrane, and Bhalot.
In Jhelum District, they hold 80 villages, they are chiefly found in the plains north of
Jhelum, a few scattered villages in Pind Dadan Khan Tehsil. Their main clans in the
district are the Gorsi, Paswal, Chauhan, Kalas, Khatana and Kasana. The Khatana are
the most numerous, afterwards the Paswal, Chauhan, and Kalas. Their main villages
are Kala Gujran, Jakkar and Muftian.
In Rawalpindi District, they are absent from the hill tehsils of Murree and Kotli Sattian,
as well as the hilly portion of Kahuta Tehsil. In Gujar Khan, they are found all over the
tehsil, their strongest colony being in the south-west, close along the Chakwal Mandrah road. In Rawalpindi Tehsil, they abound on the line of the Swaan River. They
own 124 villages in this district. Their main villages are Raman in Gujar Khan Tehsil,
Mankiala in Rawalpindi Tehsil, Bulakhar in Kahuta Tehsil, and hadwala gujran and aziz
pur gujran in tehsil kallar syedan. details of hadwala gujran can be found by clicking this
link. /articles/Hadwala_Gujaran
In Chakwal District, they own a small block of villages in north-east of Chakwal Tehsil.
Kalas is the main village owned by gujars in tehsil chakwal. All the surrounding area
which consists of thousands of acres of lands is owned by gujars right from gujar
khan/doultala road to sohawa/jhelum road.
In Attock Tehsil, they own three villages in the Chhachh illaqa, seven in Sarwala and
twenty three villages in the north east corner under gandgarh, along the border Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province and on the Haro. In Fateh Jang, they own fifteen villages, which
are found in different parts of the tehsil, including a small block of villages in the extreme
south-west corner of the Sil - Swaan circle. Their most important villages are that of
Bhalot and Hissar.

HATTAR
The Hattar are a Chandravanshi Rajput clan who claim descent from a Bhatti Rajput
nobleman, Rana Rajwadhan. The Rana lived in Ghazni, in what is now Afghanistan and
then moved to Delhi in India. After some time, he moved to Bhatner. In the 13th century,
the Rana moved to Chanb Kalyar, in what is now the Lodhran District, in Punjab,
Pakistan. The ruler of the area was a Raja Bhutta. The Raja wanted to marry the
daughter of Rajwadhan, who refused. As a result a battle took place, and the Raja was
slain. The tract was then divided by Rajwadhan, and his five sons, Kalyar, Utera, Kanju,
Noon and Hattar.[26]
The descendants of Hattar are said to have left the Multan region, and moved to north
west Punjab, where they are a now found as a Rajput tribe.
Their main villages in Chakwal District are Hattar and Assami Hattar, in Attock District,
their main village is Hattar, in Gujrat District, Hattar is their main village.
In Pind Dadan Khan Tehsil, their main villages are Dhok Hattar and Hattar.
HON
The Hon or Hun or sometimes also pronounced as Hoon are a Rajput tribe. They are
Panwar Rajputs, claiming descent from a Raja Judgeo. The tribe is a very small one.
JALAP
The Jalap are a Rajput . They are the predominant tribe in the Jalap Illaqa, the rich well
tract between the Jhelum River and the Salt Range. According to the 1931 Census of
India, they numbered 400.
The Jalaps claim to be Khokhar Rajputs, and claim descent from Jalap, who according
to traditions was a holy man, and is buried in Sargodha. Jalap is said to be buried at
Ramdiani in Sargodha District. Sidharan, who was several generations in descent from
Jalap led the tribe to its present location. The Pind Dadan Khan plain was at that time
held by the Janjua Rajputs, whom the Jalap ousted.[26]

According to another tradition, at the time of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, they
were settled along the banks of the Chenab river. Jalap was the chief of the tribe, and
the Emperor asked him to give his daughter in marriage, as other Rajputs had done.
Jalap agreed, but the rest of the clan disapproved, and when he came home, they set
upon him and killed him. Shah Jahan then sent ab army to punish them, and being
driven from their home they crossed the Jhelum, and after many fights with the Janjua
established themselves where they are found.
JANJUA
The Janjua are a Rajput tribe found in every district of the Pothohar region, barring the
hill tehsils of Murree and Kotli Sattian.
According to their traditions, Arjun's great grandson, Maharaja Janamejaya, is an
ancestor of the Janjuas. Janamejaya was later the ruling Emperor of the Kingdom of
Hastinapur, the capital of which was Indraprasta (modern day Delhi). Regarding the
Janjuas descent from the Pandavas dynasty, the Bali and Bhimwal generals of Raja
Dhrupet Dev of Mathura, recorded that the Janjua Raja Dhrupet Dev was the
descendant of Emperor Janamejaya of the Pandava dynasty of Prince Arjun. This
reference was recorded in 1195 AD. Sir Lepel H. Griffin KCSI also recorded in the early
20th century that the Janjua were Pandavas in origin.[27]

The Pandava princes ruled the region of Punjab and specifically Jhelum[28][29] during
the era of Alexander the Great. The Janjua Rajputs claim that an ancestor, Rai Por is
the Porus who fought Alexander in Punjab in 326 BC.[30] There is no source to confirm
Porus' ancestry.
Rai Dhrupet Dev was the father of a famous rebellious king Rai Ajmal Dev Janjua[31]
who embraced Islam in the 12th century due to his love for Sufi art, poetry and
teachings. Rai/Raja Mal followed the Islamic tradition of change of name after
conversion and was then known as Raja Mal Khan. He was among the first Muslim
Rajputs. This conversion was done before the armies of Shahabudin Ghauri entered

into the Indian Plateau to conquer while he was very young in his teens and inclined
towards Islamic philosophy of the Sufis,[32] whose missionary efforts were gaining
popularity in Northern India.[33][34][35][36]
Conquering for himself a kingdom in the Koh-i-Jud he settled his capital at Rajgarh
which he later renamed Malot. He re-conquered the Salt Ranges of Punjab to reestablish the dominion which his tribe lost almost two centuries earlier to the
Ghaznavids.[37] (Malot was originally called Shahghar or Rajghar - meaning home of
the Shahis/Kings but was later changed to Malot in recognition of its founder.)
The Tarikh-e-Alfi of the Ghorids mentions the rebellious behaviour of Rai Mal towards
the Delhi Sultanate. It records that he excited a rebellion against them and intercepted
communications between Lahore and Ghazni. He then led the revolt to Multan with his
Gakhar allies, defeating the Ghorid Governor of Multan before progressing to plunder
Lahore and blockading the strategic road between Punjab and Ghazni.[38][39] There
are today remnants of an ancient fort in Malot, Chakwal which was initially built by the
Shahis and later rebuilt and fortified by Raja Mal Khan. It is also inscribed that the last
Hindu Shahi prince Raja Mal embraced Islam at this place.
Raja Mal Khan was also the first ruler to begin the mining of salt in the Salt Ranges of
Kallar Kahar and in the Khewra Salt Mines of Punjab which is currently the world's
second largest salt mine. Raja Mal is said to have had five sons. Three settled in
Rawalpindi and Hazara, two Vir and Jodh remained in Jhelum.
In Rawalpindi District, the Janjua are confined to the Kahuta Tehsil. There are several
sub-divisions, of which the most important are the Dulal and Gaharwal. The Dulal
Janjua hold Kahuta itself and a few villages around it.{Daryot waris} is one of them, but
the Gaharwal are the most important section. Their headquarters are at Mator, and they
own the greater part of the Kahru Circle, which takes its name from the name of the
clan, which is sometimes written Karhwal. They own 34 villages in Kahuta Tehsil. Their
main villages being Maira, Mator, Chamba Kirpal, Thoa Khalsa, Doberan, Barish and
Dera Khalsa, all in Kahuta Tehsil
In Attock District, they own Jangal and two other villages in Fateh Jang Tehsil.

In Chakwal District, they own Kot Sarang and an adjoining village in Talagang Tehsil,
and Dhrabi in Chakwal Tehsil.
In Jhelum District, their main villages are Darapur, Chakri and Nara in Jhelum Tehsil,
Makhiala, Dalwal, Malot, Kusak, Pindi saidpur, Sherpur, Dharyala Kahun and Saloi.
JAT
The Jat are the principal tribe of Central Punjab, but in the Pothohar region, they take
third place, after both the Rajput and Awan. The author of the Jhelum District Gazetteer
wrote the following about the Pothohar Jat:
in this district there is no Jat tribe of common descent and with common traditions: the
word is applied to any cultivator who does not claim foreign or Rajput origin, and does
not belong to any other great agriculture tribes of the tracts.[40]
In Jhelum and Chakwal, the Jat form an important element in the agriculture population.
In Rawalpindi District, they are only found in numbers in Gujar Khan Tehsil. A few are
found in Rawalpindi Tehsil, none in the hill tehsils of Kotli Sattian, Kallar Syedan and
Murree, and only very few in Kahuta.
In Attock District, the Jat presence is slight, with only a few villages in Fateh Jang and
Pindigheb tehsils. The following is a brief description of the Jat tribes, not already
separately noticed:
AURA
The Aura are a small Jat clan, found in Rawalpindi and Gujar Khan tehsils. The village
of Balakhar in Rawalpindi is an important centre of the tribe. Abdullahpur is also a major
centre of this tribe in Jhelum District.
RANYAL
The Ranyal are found mainly in Mirpur District of Azad Kashmir. However, they have a
single village, Ranyal Phulan in Jhelum District.
JATAL

Some members of the Jatal consider themselves as Suryavanshi Rajputs, while others
identify themselves as Jats.
JETHAL
The Jethal are a Rajput clan[41] who claim Bhatti Rajput descent. Their origin is traced
to a Bhutta who 12 or 14 generations ago married the sister of a Ghori Sultan. The king,
however, drove Bhutta with his 21 sons in the Kirana Bar. Bhutta eventually crossed the
Jhelum River, and settled at Ratta Pind, now a mound near the town of Kandwal.[41]
JHAMMAT
Jhammat is a Jat tribe, and claim descent from Jhammat, who was said to be a Panwar
Rajput. They are found mainly in Chakwal and Jhelum districts, although there are
isolated Jhammat villages in Attock and Rawalpindi districts as well. They are closely
connected with the Mekan tribe.[42]
KAHUT
In the Pothohar region, the Kahut are confined almost entirely to Chakwal District.
Indeed, together with the Mair-Minhas and Kassar, they are referred to as the Chakwal
tribes. Out side the Pothohar region, there are a few Kahut villages in Sargodha and
Mandi Bahauddin.
The Kahut are essentially a Salt Range tribe, their villages situated on the northern
slopes of the range. The village of Nikka Kahut in Talagang Tehsil is an isolated Kahut
village, surrounded by the Awans. Most their villages are in the south of Chakwal Tehsil,
the territory known as Dhanni. The most important are Chakora, Dhok Daraz, Dullah,
Janga, Karyala, Langah and Sadwal. There are some villages of the tribe located on
both banks of Swan river in Chakwal district. The important villages are Warwal and
Hasil.
KALYAL
The Kalyal, or sometimes spelt Kalial, are one of the largestJat clans of the Pothohar
region.

KANYAL
Kanyal, sometimes spelled Kanial, are tribe of both Jat and Rajput status.
According to their tradition, the Kanyal originate from Jammu, India and trace their
descent to Jambu Loachon, the founder of the city of Jammu. He had a son named
Raja Puran Karan, from whom the tribe claims descent. They are thus descended from
the Manhas Rajput tribe.
There are various stories about the emergence of the Kanyal or Kanial tribes, in the
Rawalpindi District and they have always been considered as a high-ranking clan of the
Rajput tribe. They have been settled for hundreds of years in Rawalpindi District, and
gained a reputation as being one of the major tribes in the whole of the eastern part of
the Pothohar region.
Generally in Rawalpindi, the tribe is considered Rajput, while in the other districts they
are considered Jats, and have historically intermarried with neighbouring tribes such as
the Thathaal and Bangial.[26]
They are found mainly in Gujrat, Jhelum and Rawalpindi Districts of Punjab, basically
throughout the eastern half of the Pothohar region.
In Pothohar region, they are found mainly in Gujar Khan Tehsil and Jhelum District.
KASSAR
Kassar, or Mughal Kassar, are a Mughal tribe and one of the three major land owning
tribes in the Dhani country of Chakwal District.[43] In the Punjab settlement report of
1862,[full citation needed] it is mentioned that they had come from Jammu along with
the Mair-Minhas tribe and had been settled in this area by the Mughal Emperor,
Zaheerudin Babur.
They occupy the northern part of Dhani, called Babial and Chaupeda.
KHATARMAL

The Khatarmal are a Jat tribe who claim descent from a Gakhar nobleman of the same
name.[26] They are found mainly in Chakwal District, with a few villages in Pind Dadan
Khan Tehsil.
KETHWAL
The Kethwals are a tribe found mainly in the Murree Hills, and neighbouring Hazara
Division. They are wedged in between the Dhund on the west, and the Sattis on the
east. They own only three villages, of which one, Charihan in the Murree Tehsil.[11]
The Kethwal are a Rajput tribe . Like many other tribes in the region, there a number of
theories as to the origin of the Kethwal tribe. According to one of their traditions, they
are believed to originate from Kerman in Iran. They had travelled eastwards and settled
the Murree Hills and established their rule over the Murree region. they are of Rajput
origin, and embraced Islam in 1402, at the hands of Sufi, Syed Ali Hamdan. Mian Qadir
Bakhsh, the son of Raja Chandu of the Murree Hills was the first Muslim of the Kethwal
tribe, who is said to have embraced Islam in 1402 at Patan of Kohala. The word
Kethwal derived from the name of a tribal chief Mian Katho Khan, who was born in 1560
and is said to have ruled over the Muree region for approximately fifty years. The
Kethwal are the oldest of the Murree tribes.[26]
KHAMB
The Khamb are tribe of mixed Turkish and Mongol extraction, found mainly in Jhelum
and Rawalpindi districts.[44][full citation needed]
According to their traditions, the ancestors of the Khamb arrived from Kathiawar, in what
is now the modern state of Gujarat in India.
The Khamb were settled in their present abode, by a Hashmat Khan, a chief of the
Thathal tribe, who are natives of the Pothohar region. This Hashmat Khan was
appointed as a garrison commander of Khambhat in Kathiawar, by the Mughal Emperor
Aurangzeb. When Hashmat returned to the Pothohar region, he was accompanied by
members of the garrison at Khambait. These troops were of a mixed origin and included
troopers of Mongol and Afghan origin from Badakshan. He ordered that a village be built

and named it Khanpur, and the Khamb tribe was granted lands in and around the new
town. The tribe is still mainly found in Khambi Kaleechpur.[45][full citation needed]
The Khamb, being of at least partly Turkic extraction are now considered to be a clan of
the Mughal tribe.
The Khamb are now found mainly in compact territory covering Sargodha, Jhelum and
Gujrat, roughly following the course of the Jhelum River from Bhalwal to Jhelum city.
There are also a few isolated villages in Rawalpindi and Chakwal districts.
KHATTAR
The Khattars are probably of Jatt or Rajput origin, descended from one Rai Shiv Dyal
Chohan, and
"The Khattars are generally credited with a Hindu origin,from Khatris but they are
divided in belief as to their descent.Some admit Hindu origin, while those who deny it
claim an Arab descent, alleging they are closely connected with Awans"[46]
They mostly inhabit the area of Ilaqah called "Khattar" after them, in the more northerly
parts of the Plateau, in Attock district where it eventually rises towards the Hazara hills;
while a sizeable number is also found in and around the Kala-Chitta Hills and Fatehjang
area.
KHATRIL
The Khatril are a tribe found almost exclusively in Rawalpindi District. They were
included among the Dhund Abbasi in the 1921 Census of India, while in the 1911
Census, they were classified as Jats.[47][full citation needed]
KHICHI
The Khichi are a major tribe in central Punjab, and particularly in the districts of
Sargodha, Vehari and Sahiwal. They claim to be by origin, Chauhan Rajputs,
descendants of Khichi Khan. There are two Khichi villages in Chakwal District, both
called Khichi: one near Choa Syedan Shah and other in Talagang Tehsil.

KHINGAR
The Khingar are found mainly in Jhelum District, and Gujar Khan Tehsil of Rawalpindi
District.[48] Like many other Potohar tribes, they claim to both of Jat and Rajput status.
The Jhelum branch tend generally calls itself Jat, while some members in Gujar Khan
claim to be Rajput and others to be Jat. There are also several Khingar villages in the
Thal portion of Mianwali District. The tribe claims descent from Khingar, who was said to
be a Suryavanshi Rajput.
KHOKHAR RAJPUT
The Khokhar (Hindi: , Urdu: )or Khokar (Hindi: , Urdu: )are a people
of Pakistan and India. According to H.A. Rose[1] Khokhar ( ) Khokhal () Khokar
()Khokkar () are the gotra of RAJPUT[2][3] JATS/JAATS. They are mentioned
in Vayu Purana and Visnu Purana as 'Kokarakas'. [2] [3]Khokhar is a derivative of
Kukar.The correct form of Khokhan is Khokhar, who were rulers in Raya (Mathura) and
Sindh.[5]. Kak, Kakarzai, Block, Kukar, Khokar, Karskar Jats belong to the Anu Branch.
khokhars killed Shahab ud din Ghori in 1206. ( Ram lala khokhar -who killed gori in
1206) jasrath khokhar killed rai bhim dev (raja of jammu),and married with his
doughter.Rai Hamir Dev [Rai Bhim] 1400-1423 (k. by Jasrath Khokhar, Jamada-i-Awwal
826 AH)
There are about 276 villages of the Khokhar Jats in indian punjab. In Pakistan they are
predominately Muslim with a Christian minority and are one of the largest Rajput clans
in Punjab,[2][8] they are also commonly found in Azad Kashmir and the Hazara Division
of the North-West Frontier Province. The Khokhars were designated as an agricultural
tribe.[9.
Malik is used by Khokhars and Khokhran, and refers to chiefs,[91] primarily by QutabShahi Khokhars who claim to be descendants of Qutab Shah. Chaudhry is used by
Khokhars in parts of Punjab. Raja is used by many Khokhars, and is commonly used by
Rajputs in Punjab.[92] Rana is also commonly used by Rajputs in Punjab, and is used
by Khokhars in central and eastern Punjab. Rai is also used.

One of subdivisions of Khokhars is Khukhrain. The Khukhrain Biradari was founded by

the far-sighted fief (small kingdom) Raja Khokhar Anand in the 12th century some 900
years ago. The Khukhrain are an ancient group of eight specific clans of the Khatri
caste. The names of the eight clans are: Anand, Bhasin, Chadha, Kohli, Sabharwal,
Sahni, Sethi and Suri. The last chief or Raja of Bhera was a Khukran, Diwan Bahadur
Jawahir Mal. The Mohyal Brahmins were associated to the Khokhars and Kukhran.
Khokhran have a long history of not following the priesthood occupation that was
usually associated with Brahmins in the past.
The Khokharain subgroup of the 52 claims descent from a son of Manu but it is possibly
named from the Khokhar Rajputs and several clan names are traced to military.
Datts are a sub clan were also purohits of the Kukhran|Khokhran in earlier times
however. Sabharwal (Punjabi: , Hindi: ) is a family name predominant
among people from Khatri community. The Sabarwal / Sabharwal clan is a part of the
Khukhrain/Kukhran/Khokhran/Khokhar grouping among Kshatriya, which also consists
of nine other clans, all of whom originate from the historic town of Bhera in Punjab
(Pakistan). Many Sabarwals / Sabharwals were from Peshawar, also known as
Purushapura (Sanskrit: ) now in Pakistan. There are several sub-divisions of the
Khokhar gotra , such as the Bandial rajput, Bhachar rajput, Dholka rajput, Ganjial rajput,
Jalap

rajput,

Majoka

rajput,

Nissowana

rajput,

Rawal

rajput,

and

Denaar

rajput.According to H.A. Rose[9] Jat clans derived from Khokhar are: Bohla and
Khokhar. Haral, Ajra,(ajra It get its name from King named Ayu ( ) in Kuruvansha.[3])
Bhalu and Bhala are also the sub gotras of the Khokhar Jats (Hindu and Sikh).
Taxila - an ancient city and Archeological site - was founded by Raja Bharth and his
sons. Raja Bharth was the ancestor of Bharth Khokhar tribe. Khokhars are mainly found
in the Punjab region. In Pakistan, Khokhars can be found in the regions of Gujranwala,
Jhelum, Mianwali, Khushab, Khanewal, Shahpur, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sargodha, Bhera,
Chiniot, Gujrat, Gujar Khan, Multan, Sukkur, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Vehari,
Pakpattan and adjoining areas. Khokhars are also found in areas of Kashmir including
Azad Kashmir and Mirpur. In India, areas include Batala, Chandigarh, Gurdaspur,
Ropar, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Jammu and Kashmir. Khokhars are now based all

around the world. Muslim Khokhars are also found in Moradabad District in Uttar
Pradesh, where they are said to have settled in the 18th century, and are considered as
a clan of the Ranghar community. In addition, Hindu Khokhars are also found in the
Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, and are considered to be a Jat clan.[49] [50]
KHOTI
The Khoti are a found mainly in Chakwal District, and neighbouring Pind Dadan Khan.
Their traditional theory of origin is that they are descended from Raja Kang and settled
in Chakwal, where the bulk of the tribe is still found. They occupy several villages, Chak
Hamid and Khotian being the main ones, in the Pind Dadan Khan Tehsil, at a distance
from Jhelum river, in Jhelum District. They are also the main Jat clan of Chakwal
District, with the villages of Khotian, near Chakwal and Khotian near Choa Syedan Shah
are centres of the tribe.
LANGRIAL
The Langrial is a tribe of both Jat and Rajput status.
The Langrial are found throughout Punjab, the tribe has different traditions to its origin,
depending on the region it inhabits.
The Multan Langrial, claim descent from a Brahmin of Bikaner. According to another
tradition, they are Quraishi Arab, who held sawy over Thatta in Sindh under one
Ghiasudin, who from the lavishness of his public kitchen (langar in Sindhi and Seraiki)
obtained the title Langrial.[26] Ghiasudin was said to be a contemporary of Mohammed
of Ghor. He is said to have gone to Delhi with him. The Langrial are then said to have
travelled to Kashmir, then to Shahpur in Punjab, and eventually Goryala, near Jhang in
the same province. From there they went to Kamalia, but from there migrated to
Kamannd, and outsted the *Hans who held this country.
They also say that their ancestor was Brahman Charan from Bikaner who was
converted by Sultan Smran. They originally settled in Rawalpindi; then they moved to
Jhang and took some country from the Sial.

In Sialkot Langrial claim descent through Rai Daram from Langrial. Jasu, 15th in
descent from the Rai Daram turned Muslim. They settled in Sialkot in the time of Shah
Jahan.
In Rawalpindi District, the Langrial consider themselves Rajputs. They occupy several
villages near the town of Kallar Syedan including Phlina, Choa Saidan, Mandrah, Makh,
Darkali, Daryal, and Mohra Bani Wala.
In Attock District, the village of Langrial, and hamlets nearby are held by the Langrial.
Like the Rawalpindi Langrials, the Attock Langrial consider themselves to be Rajputs.
LILLA
The Lilla tribe is a small tribe of Jat status, which claims Quraishi descent.
According to their traditions, the tribe was originally settled in Arabia, being relations of
the Prophet Mohammad, on his mother's side. Their ancestor Haras, arrived in India
with Mahmud of Ghazna (c. 10th century). The tribe originally settled in Masnad in India.
After seven generations, their forefathers moved to Multan, where a well known Pir
gave one Ghaus Shah to be their spiritual Pir. Accompanied by Ghaus Shah, the tribe
settled in Shahidiwalian, near present day Gujranwala.[26] The local governor was
ordered to expel them and succeeded in dividing the tribe into two factions, which
fought a pitched battle. The defeated party dispersed and its descendants are now
found near the Chenab, while the others, weakened by the struggle, migrated to the
Pind Dadan Khan plain, led by Lilla Buzurg.
The tribe claims descent from Lilla Buzurg. The tract was then occupied a tribe of Hal
Jats. The Lillas exterminated this tribe, barring one pregnant woman, who had managed
to escape. From her some are descended families of Hal Jats that reside with the Lillas.
[26]
The tribe holds about 40 square miles (100 km2) of territory between Pind Dadan Khan
town and the Salt Range in the Jhelum District of Punjab, Pakistan.[26]

The form the majority in the villages of Lilla Handwana, Lilla Goj and Lilla Bhera in Pind
Dadan Khan Tehsil.
MAIR-MINHAS AND MINHAS
The Minhas are a Suryavanshi Rajput clan and claim descent from Rama a legendary
king of Ayodhya. It is an off-shoot of Jamwal-Dogra Rajputs, the founders of the city and
state of Jammu and its rulers from ancient times to 1948.
The 'Chaudhrials' or the Talukdars reside in Kot Sarfraz Khan, Kot Choudrain, Behkri,
Dhudial,

Badsahan,

Bhoun,

Murid,

Punjain

Shariff,

Sarkal-Mair,

Chakral,

Oudherwal,Dab, Mohra Sheikhan, Mohra Korechisham, Kotha Abdal, Chatal, Sutwal,

Karhan, Chak Malook, Chak Norang Bhagwal and Dhoke Tallian.
In addition the Mair-Minhas, there are several communities of Minhas Rajputs in Gujar
Khan Tejsil, where the village of Sagri is an important centre of the tribe. Dhoke Baba
Hussain, is Located in East of Mandra,on the distance of 10 km. 100% people of Dhoke
Baba Hussain are Minhas Rajput. Dhoke Baba Hussain and all other nearest Dhokes
are famous for Minhas Family. They are also found in Rawalpindi Tehsil, in and around
the village of Traiya Such as the village of Shohwa (known in area as Karkan Shohwa),
and Talagang Tehsil, where the village of Minhas and neighbouring hamlets, held by
them.
MALIAR
The Maliar are a major tribe of the Pothohar, and have often been confused with the
Arain tribe of central Punjab, with whom they have no connection.[51]
The term Maliar is said to from the Sanskrit word Malakara or makers of garland.
According to their traditions, their ancestor Mahbub accompanied Sultan Mahmud of
Ghazna to India. The Sultan assigned him gardening as a vocation, and as such the
community became horticulturists.[52] There is no consensus as to the ethnic identity of
this Mahbub. If we accept this account, the community thus settled in India at the start
of the 11th century. Historically, the community was at a disadvantage, particularly in the
Peshawar valley, where it suffered at the hands of Pashtun landlords.[53]

Unlike other tribes found in the Potohar region, military recruitment was not open to
them, because they were deemed not to be a martial race.
They are found through the Potohar region, with especial concentrations in the Attock
District. They also extend into the neighbouring Peshawer valley. There are also a few
villages in the Mirpur District of Azad Kashmir.
They are found in just about every village in the Pothohar region, barring the Murree
Hills tehsils, as tenants. There are, however a few villages which they occupy as the
dominant tribe. In Jhelum District, Dheri Malliaran, Maliar, Kazi Hussain and Rajjo Pindi
are two important Maliar villages.
Batala, Chahal, Maniand are important Maliar villages within Kahuta Tehsil, in Gujar
Khan Tehsil Bhatta Maliar Kant Maliar and Bagh Sangra are important villages in the
Rawalpindi Tehsil, Dhalla, Dughal, Khasala Kalan, Gulidana Maliar, and Salargarh are
important villages.[48] In Attock District, Dhok Maliaran in Fateh Jang Tehsil is a major
Maliar village.
In Chakwal District, Marjan Maliran and Saloi are the important village.
MEKAN
The Mekan are a Jat clan. They claim descent from the Parmara Rajputs, and spring
from the same ancestor as the Dhudhi tribe. According to their traditions, they settled in
the Thal, after the end of Arab rule in Sindh. The Hindu king of Kanauj, a Parmar Rajput
took possession of the region, and settled his kinsmen, the Mekan. They ruled Mankera
for five hundred years. Their conversion to the faith is recorded during the time of
Ghias-ud-din Balban, courtesy of Baba Farid Ganj Shakr. Towards the end of the 15th
century, the Baloch from Makran flocked into the country in and around Mankera, and
subsequently ruled this state for the next three hundred years. The Mekan in Pothohar
are found mainly in Chakwal and Jhelum districts.There main villages in Jhelum District
is Chautala and in Chakwal District there are many Maken villages such as Thanil
Kamal, Dingi Zer, Dhoke Dhabri, and Dhoke Maken near Thoa Bahdur.[26]
MUGHAL

The term Mughal (Persian: )is simply the Persian form of the word Mongol, and
large number of groups use the name Mughal in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and
Bangladesh.
In theory, all those who claim Mughal ancestry are descendants of various Mongol
armies that invaded South Asia under Genghis Khan, Timur and Babar; but the term has
always had a wider meaning. According to Bernier, a French traveller who visited India
during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb wrote:
The court itself does not now consist, as originally of real Mongols, but a medley of
Uzbeks, Persians, Arabs and Turks, or descendants of all these classes; known, as said
before, by the general appelation Mughal.[54]
So as early as the 17th century, the term Mughal covered a large number of groups.
Generally, all Central Asian immigrants to India, whether they be Uzbek, Chughtai, Tajik,
Barlas, Kipchak or Mongol were referred to as Mughal. The term was also added to
latter immigrants from Iran and Turkey, including the famous Qizilbash community. The
principal subdivision among the Mughals are the Barlas and Chughtai.
In the Pothohar region, several tribal groupings have now started to call themselves
Mughal. The author of the Rawalpindi District Gazetteer wrote as follows:
It is a curious fact that it has lately become a fashion amon certain tribes, even of high
social rank, to call themselves Mughal. Sattis, and others do so, and it said that even
Gakhars have been known to, but it is very doubtful whether any true Gakhar who could
prove his descent would ever do so.[55]
This was written about the start of the last century, and Mughal descent is now a well
established fact for many tribes of the region. In Rawalpindi District, several clans now
claim to be Mughal, for example the Hafyal of Gujar Khan Tehsil, and Janhal of Kahuta
Tehsil. In addition to these two clans, there are a number of Mughal families in the
district. The Mughal of the large village of Mughal near the city of Rawalpindi, have
always been influential. Other Mughal villages in clude Turkwal and Sarral in Gujar
Khan Tehsil. The later, the Mughal share with the Sarral Rajputs.

In Jhelum District, the Kaks of Lehr Sultanpur in the eastern Salt Range is a small
Mughal clan, which historically wielded some influence in this district. There are also a
cluster of Mughal villages around Chautala, in Jhelum District. In addition, the Phaphra
and Khamb tribes also claims to be Mughal.
In Chakwal District, the Kassar tribe of the Dhanni claims to be Mughal, as do the
Mangwal, a small clan of found in Talagang. Another notable village of Mughals is
Mulhal Mughlan.
In Attock District, the Ghebas are the principal Mughal clans. Other than the Gheba, the
Mughal own one village in the Sarwala and two in the Chhachh illaqa.
NAGYAL
Nagyal or Nagial or sometimes pronounced Nangyal are a tribe which considers itself to
both Rajput and Jat. They are distinct from Nagrial and Nagrwal, who are clans of the
Bhatti Rajputs.
The tribe claims originally to have been ManhasRajputs.[26] Nagyals are originally
Suryavanshi Rajput clan from the Punjab region and Jammu and Kashmir in India and
Pakistan. It is an off-shoot of Jamwal-Dogra Rajputs, the founders of the city and state
of Jammu and its rulers from ancient times to 1948.
The area through the eastern part of the Pothohar region, the Jhelum and Mirpur branch
considers itself to be Jat, while those of Gujar Khan and Rawalpindi consider
themselves, as Rajputs.
Mohra Nagial in the Islamabad Capital Territory is an important village. They are found
throughout Rawalpindi District, except the mountainous tehsil of Murree. In Rawalpindi
Tehsil, their villages are Banda Nagial, Mohra Nagyal and Maira Nagyal, in Kahuta
Tehsil the village of Nagial and in Gujar Khan Tehsil the villages of Bhatta, Nagial Umer,
Mohra Nagial, Nagial Sohal and Nagial Pahlwan.

In Jhelum District, Dhok Kanial Nagyal, Dhok Nagial and Gora Nagial are important
villages. In Jhelum District, Jat Nagyal also existed in Village 'Dhoke Musial, and Village
'Purana Mehta' of Tehsil Dina
PANWAR
The Panwar are an Agnivanshi Rajput tribe.
The name is said to mean one that strikes the enemy, from Sanskrit para "alien",
"enemy" mara "strike", "kill" in Sanskrit. The Parmars ruled in Malwa, which is now part
of Madhya Pradesh. They consider themselves one of the Agnikulas or Fire Tribes'.[56]
The most widely accepted school of thought is that the Paramaras along with the
Chauhans, the Pratiharas (Parihars) and the Solankis (Chalukyas) were one of the
four Agni kula ("fire-born") clans of the Rajputs.
In the Pothohar region, many clans claim to Panwar by ancestry. The tribe itself only
occupy two villages in Jhelum Pabbi, Sahsral and Jandot. There are also several
villages found across the Jhelum River in Mirpur District.
PARACHA
The Paracha own a couple of villages in Rawalpindi Tehsil, and in Taxila Tehsil, the
village of Khuram Paracha is an important centre of this tribe. In Attock District, there
are two distinct settlements of the tribe, those of Attock and those of Makhad. The
Makhad Parachas claim their original home was the village of Dangot in Bannu District,
and they moved to Makhad in the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
PASHTUN/PATHAN
The Pashtun, or Pathans, as they are referred to in the Pothohar region, are found
principally in the Attock District and belong to Qais Abdur Rashid (father of all pashtuns).
There are two Pathan settlements in that district, one in the south-west of Pindigheb
Tehsil at Makhad and in the Narrara hills, the other in the Attock Tehsil, chiefly in the
Chhachh illaqa.[57] In addition, there are also a few scattered villages, in Rawalpindi
District.

SAGRI KHATTAK PATHANS

The Pindigheb Pathans are practically all Sagri Pathans, a branch of the Bulaki
Khattaks. The Babar family of Bhangi Khel Khattaks is also represented in the Narara
hills. Another branch of the Khattaks, the Jamal Khel also have a presence in
settlements near the town of Makhad.
According to their traditions, the khattaks came across the Indus river from the
neighbourhood of Kohat, and drove out the Awan, whom they found in possession. The
Khattaks look up to the Khans of Makhad" Sher Ahmed Khattak", as their headmen.
They own seven villages, of which Makhad and Narara are the largest. The village of
Hadowali is their boundary to the east, where the Awan are their neighbours.
Throughout the tract they occupy, they have completely dispossessed all other tribes.
Their speech is the soft or western dialect of Pashto.[58]
CHHACHH PATHANS
The Attock Pathans are found in two parts of the tehsil, those of Sarwala, and those of
Chhachh. The Chhachh Pathans have very little in common with the Sagri khattaks, as
they are separated by the Kala Chita mountains.The chhachhies are also known as
Chhachi (Pashtun). The Chhachh have Hindko and pushto speaking community, and
have much in common with the Pashtun tribes settled in the neighbouring Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province. Chhachh have pukhtun culture and peoples are following
Pashtunwali code of conduct strictly like in NWFP. Mostly Pathans in Chhachh came
with Ghaznavi from Afghanistan.[59]
The largest clan are the Alizai, who include the Tahirkheli, one of three main septs of the
Alizai. The Tahirkheli inhabit villages along the Haro river. The other tribe along the Haro
are the Sadozai, and both they and the Alizai, are branches of the Durrani-tareens tribe.
Together with the Manduri and Barahzai, who are also found in numbers in the district,
they are all sections of the great Yousafzai tribe. By far the greater proportion of the
Attock Pathans are Yousafzai, allied to the Yousafzai of Swabi and Mardan districts and

other tribes are kakar, nasozai, barakzai, khattaks, lodhi, Bangash, ismail khel,
Utmanzai, sadozai and many others
The Chhachh ilaqa is almost entirely held by the Pathans, as is the Nala estates, along
the Haro river valey. The Attock Pathans were the earliest group of Pothoharis to start
emigrating to Europe and North America.There are now large communities of Chhachh
Pathan settled in British cities, such as Bradford, Birmingham and Manchester.[60]
PATHANS IN RAWALPINDI DISTRICT
There are very few Pathan settlements in this district. The only exception are the
Pathans of Ghazanabad inj Kahuta Tehsil, who are Yousafzai Pathans. In Gujar Khan
Tehsil, there are also a few Pathan villages, all of whom claim to be Mohmand. The
most important Pathan village in that tehsil is Kazrani, and the proprietors, the Qazi
family historically were of some influence in the Gujar Khan region.[61]
QURESHI
The name originally signified ancestry from the Arab tribe of Quraish.[62] The Quraish
were the tribe of the Prophet Mohammed.
In Rawalpindi district, the Dulal Qureshis of Gujar Khan, already separately mentioned,
own a clusters of villages, Narali being the main one. The other important Qureshi clan
in the district, is that of the Siham, who occupy several villages in Rawalpindi Tehsil. In
addition to these two families, the villages of Anwari and Fatot are home to Qureshi
families.
In Chakwal District, the most important Qureshi villages are Chak Misri, Karuli and Pir
Khara. In Khushab District, the most important Qureshi villages is Pail Piran. In Attock
District, they own a few villages in Fateh Jang Tehsil and Pindigheb Tehsil, but are
absent from Attock Tehsil.
RAJPUT
Error: Image is invalid or non-existent.

The Rajputs are large caste cluster, found in North India and Pakistan. They regard
themselves as being descended from the vedic warrior class known as the Kshatriyas.
The word Rajput, it is claimed is a corruption of the word Rajputra, which literally means
"son of a King". Rajputs belong to one of three great patrilineages, which are the
Suryavanshi, the Chandravanshi and the Agnivanshi.
The Pothohar Rajputs have almost all converted to Islam.[26] Their reasons for
conversion are complex and controversial, but all that can be said with certainty, is
towards the middle of the 16th century, all the Rajput clans had converted to Islam, and
indeed the Janjua say they converted much earlier. Rawalpindi District is seen as the
home of the Rajput clans, and the district is home to innumerable number of clans.
Many are muhi of larger tribes, for example the Hattar and Kural of Attock District are
Bhatti, while the Ratial are a clan of the Katoch. The threefold division of Agnivanshi,
Suryavanshi and Chandravanshi is less important here them among the Hindu Rajput
clans of North India.
Here is a brief description of some of the Rajput clans that have not been already noted:
DOGAR OR DOGRA
A Rajput clan found in Kallar Syedan Tehsil and Kahuta Tehsil of Rawalpindi District.
Their main villages are Jameri, Gulla and Sehar.
KAHIAL
The Kahial are found mainly in Gujar Khan Tehsil, where the occupy several villages,
the main one being Kahial Dara.
KHAMBAL
The Khambal are a small sept, chiefly found in the village of Sadda Khambal, in Kahuta
Tehsil. They claim to be Suryavanshi.
KURAR

The Kurar are a small Rajput sept, found mainly in the village of Kurar in Fateh Jang
Tehsil.
MIAL
Mial or more correctly Meyal,also known Qureshi Rajputs are a small Rajput clan found
in Attock, Chakwal,Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The village of Mial in Islamabad, Kuri
Sheher in Rawalpindi, and Shakrial are important centres of the tribe.
NAGRAL & NAGRAWAL
These two are clans of the Bhatti Rajputs, found mainly in Gujar Khan Tehsil. Maira
Nagral is their principal village.
RAMAL
The Ramal or Ramial are a small sept, found mainly in Rawalpindi Tehsil, where they
are found mainly in the village of Ramial.
RANIAL
The Ranial are a branch of the Janjua Rajputs.
According to their traditions, two Janjua Rajput noblemen, Raja Malu and Raja Mubarak
took over respectively, the area of Hayal Ranial and the Dhamial plain. Interestingly,
Raja Malu's offspring were known as the Rajas of Ranial and Raja Mubarak's offspring
likewise, were known as the Rajas of Dhamial. This later culminated in the recognition
of these two branches as simply Ranial Rajas and Dhamial Rajas.
The Ranial live in the Kharora circle in Rawalpindi Tehsil, and occupy the villages of
Ranial and Nambal.
RATIAL
The Ratial are Muslim Rajput tribe.
There are two traditions as to the origin of the Ratial tribe.

According to a tradition, the tribe are descended from Khattar Khan, the ancestor of the
Khattar tribe. Khattar Khan had six sons: Jand Khan, Isa Khan, Sarwar Khan, Firoz
Khan, Sehra Khan and Pehru Khan. About three generations after his death, the tribe
lost Nilab but they took possession of the open country between Rawalpindi and the
Indus which became known by the name of Khattar. The descendants of Jand Khan
took possession of the district called after them Jandal between Khushhalghar and
Nara. The Drek family is descended from Feroz Khan. His great-grandson was Ratnah
from whom have descended the clan known as Ratial.[26]
Another tradition makes Ratnah out to be a Katoch Rajput, who left Kangra in the 15th
century and settled in Potohar region, and converted to Islam. His descendants are
known the Ratial.[26]
The Ratial were for some time overlords of a large part of the present Rawalpindi
District known as Ratala. They were displaced from Ratala by a Janjua chief Raja
Abdullah Khan, being himself displaced by the upheaval of the Sikh conquest of
Garjaak and Darapur[63] took his remaining army and conquered the region of Ratyal
from a Ratial chief who was loyal to the Sikh empire. His domain was over seven large
villages consisting of Mughal Kayanis, Jats and Gakhars. He defeated the Ratial Chief
and renamed it Ratala. The Ratial are still make up the bulk of the population of this part
of what is now the Gujar Khan Tehsil of Rawalpindi District.
SANDHU
The Sandhu are one of the largest Jat tribes, of central Punjab. They hold the village of
Mohra Sandhu, and neighbouring hamlets near the town of Bewal in Gujar Khan Tehsil,
where their ancestors settled in the 18th century.
SATTI
The Satti make up almost all the population of Kotli Sattian Tehsil, and share the hilly
portion of Kahuta Tehsil, with the Jasgam.
SARRAL

The Sarral are a Rajput tribe, claiming to be Suryavanshi. They are found in throughout
the south-eastern part of the Pothohar region.
SHAIKH
The Shaikh community are found mainly in Attock District, entirely in Attock Tehsil. They
occupy ten villages between Attock city and the Chhach area. Their prominent families
include the those of the villages of Tagall and Saman. In the Chhach area, they also
found mainly as peasant proprietors. They belonged mainly to the Siddiqui and
Qanungoh biradaris.[64]
The Gadhiok Shaikhs of the village of Khokhar in Chakwal District are another important
Shaikh biradari. Their ancestor Mohammad Sharif is said to have converted to Islam
during the rule of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. They are a community of Khatri
origin.
The Miana Shaikhs of Rawalpindi District claim to by origin Farooqis.
THATHAL
Thathal (also referred to as Thothal) is a Rajput/Jat clan.
Thathals claim to be Suryavanshi Rajput ancestry.[65] They are said to be descendants
of legendary Raja Karan. Raja Thathoo, the ancestor of the Thathals was said to be a
son Raja Karan. In the Potohar region, it is not uncommon for tribes to claim both
Rajput and Jat origins.
They are found in the area between Salt Range, Kashmir and Kharian Pubbi.
SEE ALSO
Muslim Jat of Punjab
Punjabi Rajput
REFERENCES
HELP IMPROVE THIS ARTICLE

Sourced from World Heritage Encyclopedia licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Help to improve this article, make contributions at the Citational Source
This article was sourced from Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License;
additional terms may apply. World Heritage Encyclopedia content is assembled from
numerous content providers, Open Access Publishing, and in compliance with The Fair
Access to Science and Technology Research Act (FASTR), Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.,
Public Library of Science, The Encyclopedia of Life, Open Book Publishers (OBP),
PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology
Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S.
Department of Health & Human Services, and USA.gov, which sources content from all
federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government publication portals (.gov, .mil,
.edu). Funding for USA.gov and content contributors is made possible from the U.S.
Congress, E-Government Act of 2002.

Crowd sourced content that is contributed to

World Heritage Encyclopedia is peer reviewed and edited by our editorial staff to ensure
quality scholarly research articles.

By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use

and Privacy Policy. World Heritage Encyclopedia is a registered trademark of the

World Public Library Association, a non-profit organization.
About UsPrivacy PolicyContact Us

Copyright 2015 World Public Library. All rights reserved. eBooks from iCloud eBook
Library are sponsored by the World Public Library Association,
a 501c(4) Member's Support Non-Profit Organization, and is NOT affiliated with any
governmental agency or department.