Tribes and Castes

Tribes and CastesAlthough Islam has been the dominant religion here since the days of Mehmud Ghaznavi, Hinduism remained the ancient religion and the dominant force before the arrival of Islam and its culture and caste system left indelible marks on the local customs. Thus ethnic, tribal and caste-based divisions are evident in the region and people are known by their tribal affiliations which when over expressed can be counter productive. However with increasing literacy and media, trends are changing and people are deviating from the orthodoxy.The main castes and tribes listed in Mianwali are:" Niazi " Syed " Arain " Awan " Baloch " Jat " Khokhar " Malik " Rajput Niazis have a history of almost 250 years in this region.They came from the plains of Lakki Marwat, Tank and Bannu. However prior to their immigrations to this region they were concentrated in the Marwat plains shared by both Marwats and Niazis. Marwat and Niazis, both are Lodi Pathans and thus share common ancestry. There exist the accounts that Marwats and Niazis battled near the banks of Kurram River and Niazis had to leave the land and take refuge at "Tarna" (nowadays called Isakhel). However Niazis were able to establish themselves at trans-indus village of Isakhel which at that time was inhabited by the pastoral Jats and Awans. Then Niazi immigrations continued across the Indus into the Mianwali area where they established and became the main dominating tribe. Niazis are brave and strong-willed people and they prefer to serve in Police and Armed Forces.Syeds trace their origin as the descendants of Prophet Muhammad from his daughter Fatimah. In Mianwali this tribe is represented by the Syed Mianas who are the descendants of Mian Ali (Father of Sultan Zakriya). Other Syed groups are identified as Bukharis, kazmis, Gillanis and Naqvis. The latter mainly adhere to the Shiite branch of Islam. A Syed in Mianwali is respected one, no matter whatever the sect he belongs to.Awans living in Mianwali are believed to be the sole occupants of "Mianwali Salt Range" for about 600 years. Years before the Niazi immigrations into the plains some Awan tribes settled in the plains and became the nomads. They however established their strongholds at Kalabagh and Jalalpur across the Indus, but mainly they remained dormant in the plains and they were outnumbered when Niazis arrived in this region. However the claim that Niazis drove them to the mountains remains disputed because had that been the fact, many Awans would not have been there in the trans-indus towns of Kalabagh and Jalalpur as a dominant tribe even after the Niazi arrival in Mianwali and as a matter of fact there was no "Awan Rule" prior to Niazi immigrations. In fact Ghakkars controlled this entire region and they were defeated by the Ahmed Shah Abdali's forces which paved the way for the Niazi expansion. Awans claim themselves to be of Arab ( as descendants of a son of fourth right guided caliph Ali ) origin which is disputed by many British researchers and anthropologists. Awans are considered martial race since the days of British colonial rule and form a bulk of Pakistan Army.Jats have been divided into many subcastes and very few identify themselves as jats. They along with Awans led a nomadic and pastoral life in the plains. Many Hindus and some Sikhs were of Jat origin, migrated to India after partition.