HISTORY OF KILLAH SAIFULLAH

Killa Saifullah, Killa Saifullah, Qilla Saifullah,or Saifullah Killa (Pashto: قلعہ سیف اللہ‎) (Fort of Saifullah Khan) is a district in northwestern Balochistan province, Pakistan. Saifullah Khan was a brave warrior of Khoidadzai, in the Meerdadzai/Mirdadzai, a sub tribe of Kakar Sunzerkhel. A part of Zhob was named after him because of his bravery.

Killa Saifullah is one of the central cities of Balochistan. It has great value because of its agricultural products.

Killa Saifullah became a district on 14 December 1988. Qilla Saifullah used to be part of Fort Sandaman (Appozai District) and known as Zhob sub-division. In 2006 Kashatoo sub-tehsil of Zhob District was transferred to Qilla Saifullah district with a new name, Badinai. After the inclusion of Badinai sub-tehsil, (whose area is not known) in Qilla Saifullah District, the district was re-organised as far as administrative division is concerned.

At present the district is divided into two sub-divisions: Qilla Saifullah and Muslim Bagh. Kila Saifullah sub-division comprises one tehsil (Killa Saifullah) and one sub-tehsil (Badinai). Killa Saifullah tehsil is further sub-divided into 2 Qanungo circles and then into 5 patwar circles. The entire Badinai sub-tehsil is a Qanungo circle as well as patwar circle. Muslim Bagh sub-division comprises Muslim Bagh tehsil and Loiband sub-tehsil. The entire Muslim Bagh tehsil is one Qanungo circle, further sub-divided into 4 patwar circles. The Loiband sub-tehsil consists of one qanungo circle and is sub-divided into 2 patwar circles Over 99% of the people of the area are Muslims. The population of Kaala Saifullah district is estimated to be over 23,3047 in 2005. The vast majority of the population of Killa Saifullah is Pakhtun and The Major Castes of District Killa saifullah is Meerzai and jalalzai.Most of the population belongs to these two castes.the larger part of land in District Killa saifullah is related to Meerzai and the people of Meerzai caste covered a Large number of Population in District killa saifullah.they are very Brave and Hospitable people of District Killa saifullah.

Contents  

1 Administration

2 Location

3 Historical background

4 Main tribes of Killa Saifullah

Administration

The district is administratively subdivided into the following tehsils:[1]

Killa Saifullah

Muslim Bagh

Location

Killa Saifullah is about 135 km south to quetta. Kila Saifullah is an important district of Pushtun Districts of Balochistan. Nebiouring Districts Are Zhob, Loralai, Pishin. Its boder are linked With the nebiouring Country Afghanistan. Killa Saifullah, Killa Saifullah or Saifullah Killa (fort of Saifullah Khan) is a district in the north west of Balochistan province of Pakistan, 135 KM from Quetta, the Provincial Capital. Killa Saifullah was diistrict notified on 14 December 1988.

Historical background

This District is named after Saifullah Khan, who was from the Mirdadzai (Khodadzai) tribe of Kakar Sunzerkhail. He was the great grandson of Zarh Nikka (Faiz ullah Akhunzada), a renowned religious scholar of the region. The British sent its Zhob Expedition in 1884 in order to occupy the Zhob region through Baratkhail. In the meanwhile the castles of Saifullah Khan Khoidadzai and Shah Jehan Jogezai (The Badshah of Zhob) were demolished. On October 7, 1884, an assault on the Qalla (Castle) of Shah Jehan near Akhterzai resulted the killings of many tribal people including Malik Hamza Daulatzai and Mohammad Ghous who fought bravely. All 500 tribal Sardars admitted their submission before the British forces and also signed an agreement that they will not interfere in the affairs of British Government in Zhob region except Saifullah Khan Khoidadzai and Shah Jehan Jogezai, who had a narrow escape from the battle scene and established themselves at Kalat Afghanistan; where they used to operate their insurgency campaign against the British and never subdued before the British Occupying Forces.[2]

Early in the 13th century the country came within the sphere of the raids organised by Genghis Khan, the Mongol. In 1398 AD, an expedition against the Afghans of the area was led by Pir Muhammad, grandson of Amir Timur. Although no authentic information exist about any foreign occupation, many forts, mounds and karezes are attributed to the Mughals. Both Nadir Shah (1736-47 AD) and Ahmed Shah (1747-73 AD) extended their power through Balochistan and thenceforth Zhob remained under the more or less nominal suzerainty of the Durranis and Barakzais until it came under British protection. In the middle of the 18th century Ahmed Shah granted a sanad (certificate) to Bekar Nika, fourth in descent from Jogi and the head of the Jogezai family, conferring upon him the title and position of “Badshah or Ruler of Zhob”. Shah Jehan Jogezai was conferred as Badshah of Zhob. The Descendants of Shah Jehan Jogezai used to live in Loralai District of Balochistan. Administrative Units:

Main tribes of Killa Saifullah

Killa Saifullah District has been divided into two administrative units i.e., Tehsils.

Killa Saifullah

Killa Saifullah Tehsil comprises 08 union councils

Badini

Sadar Batozai

Sadar Pasanzai

Town

Musafirpur

Sharan Jogezai

Tubli

Akhterzai

Batozai

Muslim Tehsil comprises 07 union councils

Kan Mehterzai

Murgha Faqirzai

Sadar

Town

Loiband

Nasai janbagzai

kanchoghi

The vast majority of the population of Qilla Saifullah is Pashtun . Killa Saifullah, still a tribal agency in administrative terms, has been a part of Zhob and all the historical descriptions.

Killa Saifullah, still a tribal agency in administrative terms, has been a part of Zhob and all the historical descriptions available are in the context of the Zhob area. The prime historical importance of Zhob is having been a cradle of the Afghan race. In the 7th century, Hiuen Tsiang, a Chinese pilgrim has described the Afghans as living in Zhob. Early in the 13th century the country came within the sphere of the raids organised by Gengis Khan, the Mongol. In 1398 AD, an expedition against the Afghans of the area was led by Pir Muhammad, grandson of Amir Timur. Although no authentic information exist about any foreign occupation, many forts, mounds and karezes are attributed to the Mughals. Both Nadir Shah (1736-47 AD) and Ahmed Shah (1747-73 AD) extended their power through Balochistan and thenceforth Zhob remained under the more or less nominal suzerainty of the Durranis and Barakzais until it came under British protection. In the middle of the 18th century Ahmed Shah granted a sanad (certificate) to Bekar Nika, fourth in descent from Jogi and the head of the Jogizai family, conferring upon him the title and position of “Badshah or Ruler of Zhob”. This family continued to exercise authority over the Kakars until the British were first brought into contact with them.

After outbreak of the Afghan war in 1878, Zhob became a focus of the British attention when the Kakars of Zhob under the command of various sardars – the most important being Shah Jahan, Shahbaz Khan, Dost Muhammad and Bangul Khan – resisted the British authority and tried to destroy the communications. In October 1884, an expedition was sent into Zhob area to seek submission from the local dissidents. After various encounters with the Kakars of Zhob the British occupied the territory and Zhob was declared a political agency in 1890. Captain MacIver was appointed first Political Agent to Zhob. However, tribesmen of Zhob always posed difficulties for the British government. In 1924, the British Political Agent to Zhob was murdered by tribesmen and during World Wars I and II military posts in the area were under continuos threat of attacks by the tribesmen.

Killa Saifullah has been home of the Jogizai family. After the submission of Shah Jahan, the Badshah of Zhob, to the British in 1888 at Gwal Haiderzai, Killa Saifullah area was annexed to Muslim Bagh (then Hindu Bagh) tehsil – established in 1890 – but later it was declared a sub-tehsil in 1893 and a tehsil in 1903. Muslim Bagh (formerly called Hindu Bagh) is believed to be named after a garden planted by a Hindu saint.

The district has some archaeological sites mainly attributed to the Mughals. The ruins of an old fort called Mughalo Killa or “the fort of the Mughals” were found to the west of the Karezgai village, about 3¼ kilometres from Muslim Bagh, below which there is a spring of water which was reopened about 125 years ago. Fragments of ancient pottery were found in these ruins and it is said that old silver and copper coins were also found. The ruins of a fort called Khanki lie near Shina Khura about 25 kilometres east of Muslim Bagh. Local tradition asserts that the fort was held by Miro, a Mughal governor, who was miraculously overthrown by Sanzar Nika, the progenitor of the Sanzarkhel Kakars. There are also ruins of an old fort called the Mughalo Brunj in Murgha Faqirzai. Similar ruins occur near Toiwar, Sharan, Ismailzai and on the Zhar hill near Akhtarzai. There also exist ancient karezes, said to have been made in Mughal times, which may be considered as relics of archaeological interest. These include Karez Akhtarzai, Karez Soghai and Mustafa Karez in Killa Saifullah sub-division and 2 karezes in Sra Khulla, about 6½ kilometres from Muslim Bagh.

The entire Killa Saifullah district remained a part of Zhob district as Upper Zhob sub-division up to 14th December 1988. However, Badinai, sub-tehsil of Killa Saifullah district, was previously included in Kakar Khurasan as sub-division of Zhob with the name Kashatoo. About two years ago it was transferred to Killa Saifullah district. At present, Killa Saifullah district comprises Killa Saifullah sub-division – including Killa Saifullah tehsil and Badinai sub-tehsil – and Muslim Bagh sub-division – including Muslim Bagh tehsil and Loiband sub-tehsil. Kan Mehterzai is a monumental place in the district where Asia’s highest railway station is located.