Ghorghushti
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Ghorghushti (غورغشتى) is a town in Chach in the Attock district of North-West Punjab, Pakistan. It is bordering the Sarhad (NWF) province. It is one of the largest towns in the Chach region. In Pukhto it is called Ghorghushto.
It was founded by Anayat Khel (the Khans) and Kakar tribes. Other Tribes, Dilawar khel and Matta Khel (the Maliks, both of Ishaq Zai tribe) immigrated later. Haidar Zai (Khadar zai), Haider Khel, Asad (Sadoo) khel immigrated from a town called Hund on the other side of the River Indus roughly about the same time. Other tribes include: Suleiman khel(Sarma Khel), Najab Khel and Sar Khel. Some people from a town called Gharhi Kara khel took refuge in Ghorghushti and are now known as Kara Khel, but in fact they are not a single tribe or Pathan. The name is was given to them to recognise that they were from that village.
The Babris (people from Babri tribe) are from a village just few miles up from Ghorghushti, called Sheikh Chuhr. They are originally from Punjab. They took refuge in the northern areas of Pujab, Chach, fleeing from the onslaught of emperor Babur after they (Babris), Awans and Dalazaks revolted against the emperor.
There are also Kashmiris who probably have descended from people from Kashmir long ago. Some Afghan refugees and Kohistanis have also settled in Ghorghushti in the recent times after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Towns of the same name also exist in the FATA area, district Swabi and in Bunner. Ghorghushti is the last town in District Attock and in the north it borders district Haripur of Sarhad (NWF) province, in south it borders with Malak Mala village, in the east it borders with Jalalia village and in west it borders with Kotkay village.
Until about 50 years ago the main languages were Pukhto and Hindko, but now Hindko is the major language, as it is in the whole of district Attock.
Its population is about 30000 to 40000. Ghorghushti is split in two parts, the "Tahalqa" and "Daftar", because it is a large town. Tahalqa is 46471.568 Kanals(5808.946 Acres), Daftar is 26320.32 Kanals(3290.04 Acres) therefore the total area is 72791.888 Kanals (9098.986 Acres). Tahalqa starts from the soil embankment( called "Pull" (Pull means Bridge) locally) to the Gandgar mountains.
A long time ago, Qibla Bandi and Qutb Bandi were remote Mohallas but over time as population grew these Mohallah became separate villages. A "Banda" is synonymous with Mohallah. Most of the land, about 85%, belonged to the Anayat khel tribe in both parts but they sold some of it to others, and as a result they now own less than that. There are about 50-60 Masajid (Mosques), but as the population is growing so is the number of Mosques. And there are 20 to 25 Mohallas. A Mohalla is the same size as three to four streets. When new tribes immigrated they were alloted a Mohalla, which was named after that tribe name. Examples are: Mohallah Asad(Sadoo) Khel, Mohallah Najab Khel, Mohallah Haider Khel. There is another Mohallah named Kara Khel, but this isn't named after a tribe but people from a village called Garrhi Kara Khel as mentioned above.
There is one boys high school, one girls high school, one hospital and five banks. There are facilities of gas, electricity and telephone, and a Police station. The famous Ghazi-Barotha hydroelectric canal runs through Ghorghushti. It runs through an area called "Bareetian". A large area of Ghorghushti was used up in the Ghazi-Barotha Canal and many families were affected. These families were compensated and alloted some land on the other side of the canal towards the mountain. This new Mohallah is called Feroz Banda. A large number of people are living in Arab countries, UK, USA and other countries of Europe.
There have been many prominent religious scholars emanating from Ghorghushti. The most famous of them are: Sheikh-ul Hadees Naseer-uddin(RA), his nephew Sheikh-ul Quran Qutbuddin(RA) (they both belong to the Kakar tribe). Another relious family is of Hazrat Sayyed Ahmad(RA) and his nephew Hazrat Abdul Haq(RA). They have been appointed in places like Delhi, Lucknow and South Africa. Their students have come from far flung places like Isfahan Iran, Multan, Qandahar, Kabul Ghor and Ghazni in Afghanistan. Their graves are in their own private graveyard, next to a private Anayat Khel graveyard. Other pious and famous scholars are:
- Hazrat Gharhi Baba(RA), who came from Sarhad, and whose grave is in Mochi Banda near Anayat Khel poultry farm. "Mochi" is a caste who make and mend shoes i.e cobblers.
- Hazrat Akbar Shah Ghazi Baba(RA), whose grave is in Mohallah Ishaq Zai.
- Hazrat Mian Haleem Baba(RA) came from district Swabi Sarhad, whose grave is behind the Boys High school in Mohallah Walidad Banda.
- Hazrat Mian Bagga Baba(RA),came from Multan, whose grave is in Mohallah Shera Banda.
- Hazrat Akhunn Baba(RA), who came from Sarhad, and his grave is in Choti Mandi (Little Market).
Ghorghushti is developing like other towns and villages are growing and developing. If further information is needed please contact the author at: S_A_KHAN14@yahoo.co.uk Please DO NOT alter the above article. S.A.KHAN.
