Karlal

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Karlal (also known as Kard'al, Karaal, Karhral, or Kiraal) is a tribe found in the Abbottabad and Haripur districts of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Karlal territory borders on both Azad Kashmir and Punjab.

The tribe trace their descent from Sardar Kallar Shah who is believed to have come from southern Afghanistan, and is believed to have been a descendant of Alexander the Great. The various names of the tribe are derived from the name "karal" or "karaak" which means strength, bitter or straightforward, signifying the military character of the person. In Haripur and Abbottabad, they are known as Sardars because during the time of the Delhi Sultanate (1206-1296) they became the sardars (meaning leaders) of this area. Although the Sardari-System is now obsolete, the name prevails due to extensive usage by local peoples, including other tribes who prefer to refer Karlals as sardars. The majority of the people of the Karlal tribe are secular Sunni Muslims. Karlals have a liberal social structure and have accepted inter-marriages with other people, including both Pashtuns and Punjabis. This has led to an ethnic blend within the community, which now constitutes 30% of the population of the district of Abbottabad. They are a Hindko speaking tribe.

According to the District Gazetteers of Rawalpindi and Hazara written jointly by the respective Deputy Commissioners of the above areas, the tribe Kharral of Gojra in Punjab, derive their ancestors from the Karlals in Abbottabad, Hazara. The account of the 1857 India's First War of Independence also known as the Indian Mutiny clearly establishes strong cooperation and connectivity between the two tribes linking them to the common ancestor with the assumption that the Kharrals of Gojra and Karlals of Abbottabad are actually the one and the same tribe.

[edit] Origins

Origins of the Karlal find mention in both Census reports of Ibbetson and Rose as well as District Gazatteer .

“ The Karlal country consists of the Nara ilaqa in the Abbottabad Tahsil. .[1] ”
“ ’ a tribe found only in Hazara.According to the late Colnel R G Wace “the Karlal country consists of the Nara ‘’ilaqa’’ in Abbottabad tehsil . [2] ”
“ Originally Hindus, their conversion to Islam is of comparatively modern date .Thirty years ago their acquaintance with the Mohomedan faith was still slight and though they now know more of it , and are more careful to observe it ,relics of their former Hindu faith are still observable in their social Habits .[3][4] ”
“ ’ He further noted that the Karlals are identical in origin and character with he Dhunds . This would make the Karlals one of the Rajput tribes of the Hills lying along the left bank of the Jhelum ;and they are said to claim Rajput origin though they have recently set up a claim to Kayani Mughal descent , in common with the Gakkhars ; or as a variety that their ancestor came from Kayan , but was a descendent of Alaxander the great ! [5] ”

Karlals does not have a Hindu origin like some other tribes of this area particularly Sheikhs, Jadoons and Awans etc. They were extensively distributed in hilly areas of district Abbottabad known as Gillies or Gilyat. After independence of Pakistan from British rule in 1947,they migrated to many urban areas and started living in cities like Karachi, Lahore and Abbottabad. Their commonly used family name ``Sardar`` refers to the official title given to the established ancestor of the family ``Karlal Shah`` by Mammluk Sultane Shams-ud-din Iltutmish, or Altamash (1210-1236). Shams-ud-din belonged to the tribe of Ilbari in Turkestan and he considered Karlal Shah (Who was an Afghan and practicing the same religion of Islam) a natural ally to be appointed as a ``Sardar`` or military leader of this unrully area. Karlal Shah effectively subdued local tribes eventually winning their loyalty to the sultan at Delhi. This befriended him more with the Sultan at Dehli who let him stay as Sardar of the area. Many of the social habits or customs of karlals are similar to Judaism. They used to practice circumcision of male child on the 8th day of birth, observing Kosher rules in eating which are similar to Jewish faith. They never eat blood or anything which is polluted with blood. Star of David can be amply found in their houses, so much so many Mosques are decorated with Star of David. Lengends which are widely held by many of those who claim to have knowledge of the history of the origin of this tribe says that they are children of Ishaq (Ishac of Torah or Tanakh and Jakoob (Jacob of Tanakh, Torah or Old Testament.All such claims need careful investigations. Though in the present times non of them accepts Judaism as their official religion.The only confussing article of their religion is belief in the arrival of Messiah or Meedhi which relates them to Judaism. Interestingly, they do not believe that prophet Muhammad was a Messiah. They say that ``Messiah has to arrive``. The concept of Immam Meedhi among Shia is entirely different story of Meedhi or Messiah. The common belief is that Meedhi or Messiah will appear (A concept of Judaism) and lead them to Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple to establish a universal empire where there will be no evil and injustice and this emipre will last for thousands of years.They also believe that before the end days(Dooms Day)this universal empire will end. In public practice they are mostly secular Sunnis. Their conversion to Islam dates back to 8th century AD. They probably might have converted from Jainism with strong influence of Jewish customs and traditions found among many tribes of this area for examle Pathans or Pakhtoons who also have similar social habits. Names like Adam, Jacob, Cain or Kala, Azar or Izhar , Jaswick, are still common among the older generation which points strongly of biblical influences. Present day trend is more oriented towards Arabic names like Muhammad with its thousands of combinations, Noor-ul-Haq, Rizwan-ul-Haq, Razaq, Haleem, Kareem etc. The most interseting aspect of their names is that usually they use ``Sardar`` as a family name. Which was just an official title in the times of Dehli Sultanate in 13th century AD.

[edit] Notable Karlals

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Please improve this article if you can (March 2008).
  • Mr. Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza, Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan
  • Sardar Col(retd) Muhammad Arif, of village Hajia Galli, served in Pakistan Army from 1972-2002.
  • Sardar Ghulam Nabi former MPA, North-West Frontier Province
  • Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob, Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament of Pakistan
  • Sardar Idrees, MPA, Minister for Local Government of the North-West Frontier Province
  • Sardar Haidar Zaman Khan, Nazim of Abbottabad District
  • Colonel Sardar Sultan Mohammad Khan, Chief Engineer Navy 1966
  • Brigadier Sardar Ghulam Arif, first Karlal to become a brigadier in Pakistan Army.
  • Sardar Gul Zaman Khan (late), first Provincial Minister of Karlal tribe in 1974, MPA for the PF37 constituency (Samundar Katha), a place where according to Tareekh-E-Frishta, Sikhs commanded by Hari Singh were defeated by Karlals
  • Dr Sardar Haider Zaman, (Ph.D, Urban & Regional Planning), Awarded Personality of the year 2003, Social worker and Consultant for Asian Development Bank and other multi-lateral agencies. Author of hundreds of documents on planning and social welfare. Advised NWFP & FATA governors, currently heads a number of charities in NWFP and Kashmir
  • Col. (retired) Sardar Gauhar Rahman, served Pakistan Army 1968-1997, joined State Life Insurance, Pakistan in 1997 as a Director, Officer Training Institute
  • Sardar Mohammad Saleem Jabbar (Nazim of union council Malik Akhter Mohammad Halqa #6 Quetta Balochistan).
    • Sardar Muhammad Riaz, Chairman (Monopoly control), Federal Secretary
  • * *Colonel (retd)Zia ur Rehman,Director MT KRl Kahuta Rawalpindi.
    • XEN Abdul Waheed Executive Engineer PESCO Hazara Pakistan
  • Sardar Anwar Baig served more than 20 years in UAE army as Boiler Engineer and provided consultancy on various mechanical engineering issues.
  • Saeed ur Rehman Deputy Director Hazara Phosphate Haripur.
  • Sardar Mohammad Nasir(Chanjah) Educationalist,Financial Analysist,Writer. Academic Director of Castle College of Management Sciences, Newcastle upon Tyne UK.
  • Sardar Eng Muhammad Farid Civil Engineer , Gold Meadlist
  • Sardar Shahid Farid, Chartered Accountant , Chartered Secretary ,Chartered Taxation Manager, Chartered Manager, Public Finance Accountant, Certified Financial Consultant from USA. He is the first Chartered Accountant of Sardar Tribe . He is Senior Partner of Muniff Ziauddin and Co Chartered Accountant, Internationally representated by BKR International
    • Sardar Aurengzaib Nilotha MPA of NWFP ASSEMBLY.
  • Sardar Muhammad ASLAM Ex Principal Commerece College Abbottabad
  • Major General Sardar Anwar Ali Khan
    • Sardar GulKhatab Khan Ex MNA PPP
  • Sardar Aslam Khan EX Senetor
  • sardar Haji Iqbal GM(chemical engineer)Heavy Mechinacal Complex Taxila
    • Sardar Nasir Rehman of Bunj,Berin gali.
    • Sajid Rehman (Malik purra)Chartered Certified Accountant United Kingdom
    • Sardar Khalid Mehmood Burmi Gali (Kari Raiki) Nathiagali NCHD
    • Sardar Abdul Hakeem MBA( Finance)Junior Joint Director SBP.Bagan Distt.Abbottabad.
    • Sardar Khalil Ur Rahman General Secretary Bagan Welfare Association Bagan.


[edit] References

  1. ^ Gazatteer of the Hazara District 1883-84 Published by Sang e Meel Pakistan Page 69
  2. ^ A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North -West provinces , compiled by H A Rose , vol II Page 470
  3. ^ Gazatteer of the Hazara District 1883-84 Published by Sang e Meel Pakistan Page 69
  4. ^ A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North -West provinces , compiled by H A Rose , vol II Page 470
  5. ^ A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North -West provinces , compiled by H A Rose , vol II Page 470
  • The Punjab Chiefs by Sir Lepel H. Griffin
  • Tareekh-E-Frishta
  • Tareekh-E-Hazara by Badhar Khan
  • Tareekh-E-Bani Aees by Sardar Iqbal Khan
  • Tareekh-E-Karlal by Nasir Khan Karlal