Kohlu District
Encyclopedia
Kohlu is a district
of the Balochistan
province
of Pakistan
. It is bounded in the north by Loralai District
, Dera Bugti
in the south, in the east Rojhan-Mazari and Sibi District
in the west. Kohlu District covers a total of 7456 square miles (19,311 km²) and according to the 1998 census of Pakistan had a population of 99,000.
The area is mostly inhibited by a nomadic or semi - nomadic population, which camps with their flocks of sheep and moves with the seasons to find pasture. The area is generally mountainous and main localities in the area are Kohlu
, Fazal Chel, Maiwand
, Kahan
, Bijarwadh
and Tadri
. The district is divided in three Tehsils i.e., Kohlu
, Maiwand
and Kahan
with eight union councils. The history of Kohlu District is primarily the history of Marri
tribes. The land of brave and courageous people who stood firm against the British rule and never accepted their hegemony
in the area. The rugged mountains preserve the romance of Mir Chakar Khan Rind
, hero of Baloch
tribes.
s:
, Ghazini
and Loharani
emerged in small groups. Bijar Khan founded the Bijarani clan, the Loharani by blacksmith and Ghazini clan was founded by Buledi
boy adopted by Ali Khan. The other tribe in Kohlu is Zarkoon. The British army
occupied Kahan in May 1840 but were soon forced by the Marris to evacuate. Despite a number of treaties signed by the British
with the Marris, the law and order situation could not be improved, as the Marris thought of the British as illegal occupants of their territory. Thus everything related to the British men, allies or installation was supposed to be attacked.
In 1898, Sardar Khair Bakhsh Marri along with many of his tribesmen migrated to Kabul
as a protest against the British occupation. However, he came back after some time unconditionally. After independence, the area remained a political agency. The tribal leadership started voicing for unity of Baloch tribes and for an independent Balochistan
. National sentiments grew rapidly stronger and after the arrest of Khan of Kalat
in 1958, the tribesmen started a guerilla war, although on a limited scale, against the government. The army was sent to control the movement, but its presence further deteriorated the situation. Mir Sher Muhammad Bijarani, Marri (also known as General Sheroff) took the leadership of the movement, which was called Farrari Movement. This movement ended in 1969.
After the dismissal of the first elected government of Balochistan
in 1973, a serious conflict started between the government and the political leadership of the province. While responding to the situation, the tribesmen in Kohlu started a large scale insurgence in the area and after a strong military operation they migrated to Afghanistan
along with their leaders. Coincidentally, the history repeated itself and Sardar Khair Bakhsh Khan Marri
(Chief of Marris nowadays) went into voluntary self–exile and reached Kabul
in 1981.
Kohlu was given the status of district in 1974 and reshaped in July 1983 with three sub-divisions, Kohlu, Maiwand and Kahan. In 1990, a "Government Sponsored" Jirga
was held in Children’s Park at Kohlu in which it was decided that Sardari System in District Kohlu be eliminated forthwith. It was also decided in the Jirga that Khair Bakhsh Marri
was no more the Nawab
of Marri
s. Instead a Council of elders was enacted to keep a contact with the Government.
Districts of Pakistan
The Districts of Pakistan are the second order administrative divisions of Pakistan. Districts were the third order of administrative divisions, below provinces and "divisions", until the reforms of August 2000, when "divisions" were abolished...
of the Balochistan
Balochistan (Pakistan)
Balochistan is one of the four provinces or federating units of Pakistan. With an area of 134,051 mi2 or , it is the largest province of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the total land mass of Pakistan. According to the 1998 population census, Balochistan had a population of...
province
Subdivisions of Pakistan
The administrative units of Pakistan consist of four provinces, one federal capital territory, and a group of federally-administered tribal areas...
of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. It is bounded in the north by Loralai District
Loralai District
Loralai is a district in the centre of Balochistan province of Pakistan. Loralai district was created on October, 1903. Loralai town is the district headquarters...
, Dera Bugti
Dera Bugti District
Dera Bugti is a district located in the south west of Balochistan province of Pakistan. Dera Bugti is named after its headquarter town 'Dera Bugti'. Dera means `abode' or `habitat', while `Bugti' is the name of the major Baloch tribe. Thus Dera Bugti means the abode of the Bugtis, the dominant...
in the south, in the east Rojhan-Mazari and Sibi District
Sibi District
Sibi is a district in theBalochistan province of Pakistan. The main mountains range are Zen, Bambore and Dungan. The climatic and topography of Sibi District is quite varied compared to other districts of Balochistan. It is also known as the "Hot spot" of Pakistan where the temperatures in the...
in the west. Kohlu District covers a total of 7456 square miles (19,311 km²) and according to the 1998 census of Pakistan had a population of 99,000.
The area is mostly inhibited by a nomadic or semi - nomadic population, which camps with their flocks of sheep and moves with the seasons to find pasture. The area is generally mountainous and main localities in the area are Kohlu
Kohlu
Kohlu is the capital of Kohlu District in Balochistan, Pakistan. It is located at 29°54'0N 69°15'0E with an altitude of 1183 metres . The Marri tribe is main ethnic group in the city....
, Fazal Chel, Maiwand
Maiwand (Pakistan)
Mawand is located in the Kohlu District of Balochistan, Pakistan. It is the place where the first helicopter to start the counter insurgency operations landed...
, Kahan
Kahan
Kahan is located in Kohlu District of Balochistan, Pakistan. Kahan is famous for being the native village of Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, the Nawab of Kohlu Agency...
, Bijarwadh
Bijarwadh
Bijarwadh is a famous area among the main areas of the Kohlu district, which is near Tadri. The Chief of Bijarwadh was Wadra Jangho Khan and Nari Ali Gul Kalwani, after their death their tribe migrated to sindh provience in 1980,then son of Wadra Jangho khan Wadra Ghulam Hussain Maree selected ...
and Tadri
Tadri
- Track listing :# "Tadri"# "Ana Wella Ant"# "Naseby"# "Lo Re7t 3anny"# "Hatha 7abeeby"# "Khalas"# "A3any"...
. The district is divided in three Tehsils i.e., Kohlu
Kohlu
Kohlu is the capital of Kohlu District in Balochistan, Pakistan. It is located at 29°54'0N 69°15'0E with an altitude of 1183 metres . The Marri tribe is main ethnic group in the city....
, Maiwand
Maiwand (Pakistan)
Mawand is located in the Kohlu District of Balochistan, Pakistan. It is the place where the first helicopter to start the counter insurgency operations landed...
and Kahan
Kahan
Kahan is located in Kohlu District of Balochistan, Pakistan. Kahan is famous for being the native village of Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, the Nawab of Kohlu Agency...
with eight union councils. The history of Kohlu District is primarily the history of Marri
Marri
Marri ) is one of the largest ethnic Baloch tribes in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Marri was considered to be a clan of the Rind tribe in the early history of Baloch and Balochistan...
tribes. The land of brave and courageous people who stood firm against the British rule and never accepted their hegemony
Hegemony
Hegemony is an indirect form of imperial dominance in which the hegemon rules sub-ordinate states by the implied means of power rather than direct military force. In Ancient Greece , hegemony denoted the politico–military dominance of a city-state over other city-states...
in the area. The rugged mountains preserve the romance of Mir Chakar Khan Rind
Mir Chakar Khan Rind
Mir Chakar Khan Rind or Meer Chaakar Khan Rind or Chakar-i-Azam was a Baloch chieftain in the 15th century...
, hero of Baloch
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
tribes.
Administration
The district of Kohlu is administratively subdivided into the following tehsilTehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
s:
- KahanKahanKahan is located in Kohlu District of Balochistan, Pakistan. Kahan is famous for being the native village of Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, the Nawab of Kohlu Agency...
- KohluKohluKohlu is the capital of Kohlu District in Balochistan, Pakistan. It is located at 29°54'0N 69°15'0E with an altitude of 1183 metres . The Marri tribe is main ethnic group in the city....
- MaiwandMaiwandMaiwand is a village in Afghanistan and the district center of Maiwand District of Kandahar Province. It is located 50 miles northwest of Kandahar....
History
In the early sixteenth century, three main tribes i.e. BijaraniBijarani
Bijarani is a name of Baloch tribes in the Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan.- Prominent Bijarani personalities* Sardar SHER MUHAMMAD KHAN BIJARANI* MIR HAZAR Khan Bijarani* SARDAR MEHBOOB ALI KHAN BIJARANI* MIR SHABBIR ALI KHAN BIJARANI...
, Ghazini
Ghazini
Ghazini or Gazini is a sub clan of the Marri Baloch Tribe of Kohlu, Balochistan.The Marri Tribal Chief or Nawab belongs to this Sub Clan. Ghaznis mostly reside in and around Kohlu and Kahan areas of Marri Tuman....
and Loharani
Loharani
Loharani is a Baloch tribe in Sibi District of Balochistan, Pakistan....
emerged in small groups. Bijar Khan founded the Bijarani clan, the Loharani by blacksmith and Ghazini clan was founded by Buledi
Buledi
Buledi is a Baloch tribe in Balochistan, Pakistan.The Buledis are thought to be named after town of Buleda in Makran, Balochistan. They follow Baloch culture. Most people of Buledi are in politics, journalism, government and education....
boy adopted by Ali Khan. The other tribe in Kohlu is Zarkoon. The British army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
occupied Kahan in May 1840 but were soon forced by the Marris to evacuate. Despite a number of treaties signed by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with the Marris, the law and order situation could not be improved, as the Marris thought of the British as illegal occupants of their territory. Thus everything related to the British men, allies or installation was supposed to be attacked.
In 1898, Sardar Khair Bakhsh Marri along with many of his tribesmen migrated to Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
as a protest against the British occupation. However, he came back after some time unconditionally. After independence, the area remained a political agency. The tribal leadership started voicing for unity of Baloch tribes and for an independent Balochistan
Balochistan (Pakistan)
Balochistan is one of the four provinces or federating units of Pakistan. With an area of 134,051 mi2 or , it is the largest province of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the total land mass of Pakistan. According to the 1998 population census, Balochistan had a population of...
. National sentiments grew rapidly stronger and after the arrest of Khan of Kalat
Khan of Kalat
Khan of Kalat or Khan-e-Qalat is the title of former rulers of State of Kalat. Kalat state is now part of Balochistan, Pakistan. The rulers in Kalat were always subject to the political authority of a larger state, after the Mongol invasion they were subject to the Mughal emperors in Delhi, then...
in 1958, the tribesmen started a guerilla war, although on a limited scale, against the government. The army was sent to control the movement, but its presence further deteriorated the situation. Mir Sher Muhammad Bijarani, Marri (also known as General Sheroff) took the leadership of the movement, which was called Farrari Movement. This movement ended in 1969.
After the dismissal of the first elected government of Balochistan
Balochistan (Pakistan)
Balochistan is one of the four provinces or federating units of Pakistan. With an area of 134,051 mi2 or , it is the largest province of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the total land mass of Pakistan. According to the 1998 population census, Balochistan had a population of...
in 1973, a serious conflict started between the government and the political leadership of the province. While responding to the situation, the tribesmen in Kohlu started a large scale insurgence in the area and after a strong military operation they migrated to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
along with their leaders. Coincidentally, the history repeated itself and Sardar Khair Bakhsh Khan Marri
Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri
Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri is a politician from Balochistan, Pakistan. He has been leading a nationalist and separatist in the country for the past four decades. He is also the head of his powerful Marri tribe...
(Chief of Marris nowadays) went into voluntary self–exile and reached Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
in 1981.
Kohlu was given the status of district in 1974 and reshaped in July 1983 with three sub-divisions, Kohlu, Maiwand and Kahan. In 1990, a "Government Sponsored" Jirga
Jirga
A jirga is a tribal assembly of elders which takes decisions by consensus, particularly among the Pashtun people but also in other ethnic groups near them; they are most common in Afghanistan and among the Pashtuns in Pakistan near its border with Afghanistan...
was held in Children’s Park at Kohlu in which it was decided that Sardari System in District Kohlu be eliminated forthwith. It was also decided in the Jirga that Khair Bakhsh Marri
Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri
Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri is a politician from Balochistan, Pakistan. He has been leading a nationalist and separatist in the country for the past four decades. He is also the head of his powerful Marri tribe...
was no more the Nawab
Nawab
A Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
of Marri
Marri
Marri ) is one of the largest ethnic Baloch tribes in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Marri was considered to be a clan of the Rind tribe in the early history of Baloch and Balochistan...
s. Instead a Council of elders was enacted to keep a contact with the Government.