Leghari

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Leghari (Urdu: لغاری Sindhi: لغاري), also spelt as "Laghari" in Sindh, is a Baloch tribe living in Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. The Leghari Baloch primarily speak the Seraiki, Sindhi, and Balochi language, they are largely Sunni Muslims.

Contents 1 Origins 2 Distribution 3 Chiefs in Punjab 4 Political representation 5 Leghari Tribe in Pakistan's Services

[edit] Origins

The Leghari (pronounced Laighari) Baloch tribe is one of Pakistan's largest Baloch tribes. The Baloch do not have a documented history and as such the exact movement of the tribe is not known yet it is established that the tribe has had influence in past centuries in the Sibi, Barkhan and Loralai area of Balochistan . More than two centuries ago they conquered a large part of what is today Dera Ghazi Khan District and established themselves at Choti Zareen (Lower Choti). The Leghari Tumandars (or Sardars i.e Tribal leaders) ruled a vast territory and collected tax from as far off as Barkhan in Balochistan.

[edit] Distribution

The Leghari tribe is settled mainly in Southern Punjab and Sindh province though the Legharis have large land holdings in Balochistan also.

A segment of the Leghari tribe migrated to Sindh on the orders of Nawab Jamal Khan Leghari the cheif of the tribe at that time. They were accompanied by many other Baloch clans like the Jatois, Khosa, Chandios, etc. The famous Talpur Mirs (rulers) of Sindh & the Jamalis of Balouchistan are also a clan of the Leghari tribe. The Leghari tribe in Sindh is mostly settled in Sukkur, Sanghar, Hyderabad, Dadu, Thatta and Larkana Districts.

[edit] Chiefs in Punjab

The Leghari sardars (chiefs) in the Punjab belong to the Aliani clan of the Leghari tribe. They are settled in Dera Ghazi Khan (Choti) and Rahim Yar Khan (Rahimabad). The current sardar (chief) of the Leghari tribe in Punjab is Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari (former President of Pakistan).

[edit] Political representation

The Leghari tribe probably has the largest "family" representation in the parliament (National & Provincial Assemblies, and District Governments) of Pakistan. Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, his son Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecom, Muhammad Jaffar Khan Leghari and his wife Mina Leghari are members of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Mansoor Ahmed Khan Leghari has remained an MPA, MNA and a Senator. Mohammad Jamal Khan Leghari is a member of the Senate of Pakistan. Rafique Haider Khan Leghari is the Nazim of Rahimyar Khan. Maqsood Ahmed Khan Leghari is the Nazim of Dera Ghazi Khan. Muhammad Khan Leghari, Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari and Muhammad Yousaf Khan Leghari are members of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.

Nadir Akmal Khan Leghari was member of the Provincial Assembly of the Sindh, Secretary General of PML Q and the Minister for Irrigation in the Government of Sindh. Muhammad Arshad Khan Leghari is member National Assembly of PakistanMNA 2008

Dr. Javaid Laghari is a member of the Senate of Pakistan from Sindh while Ms. Sajeela Leghari, Ms. Sharifunnisa Laghari and Dr. Manzoor Leghari were members of the Provincial Assembly of the Sindh.

[edit] Leghari Tribe in Pakistan's Services

The Legharis are not only active in Politics but have also served in various branches of the Government. Notable amongst them; Atta Mohammad Khan Leghari was an ICS officer and held various prestigious appointments and was Member Board of Revenue. Manzoor Ahmed Khan Leghari also held various administrative positions as a DMG officer. Mohammad Rahim Khan Leghari was chief of the Bahwalpur State Police and later served as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Pakistan Police Service. Ghulam Asghar Khan Leghari served in Bahawalpur State Police and later retired as a DIG of Pakistan Police. Mushtaq Ahmed Khan Leghari is a retired Air Marshal from the Pakistan Air Force who also served as Pakistan's Ambassador to the UAE. Colonel Rafiq Ahmed Khan Leghari served as the Military Secretary to the Governor of Baluchistan and the Governor of Punjab respectively. He also served as Joint Director of the Intelligence Bureau and later was elected member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab. Noor Illahi Khan Leghari is a retired Inspector General of Police who served as the Director General of the Intelligence Bureau and Chairman of Pakistan International Airlines Corp. Aftab Ahmed Khan Leghari served as Member WAPDA. Ziauddin Khan Leghari is a retired DIG of Police. Nazir Ahmad Khan Leghari served as DG Local Government and retired as Joint Director Industries, Govt. of Punjab. Liaquat Ali Khan Leghari retired as a Commissioner of Income Tax while Fayyaz Ahmed Khan Leghari is a serving DIG of Police.

In Sindh, Ghulamullah Laghari was Chief Engineer Irrigation and his brother Rasool Bux Laghari was District and Sessions Judge Karachi (when it was one district). Dr. Mohammad Farooq Laghari is working as a DCO. He is son of Mr. Rasool Bux Laghari. Dr. Mohammad Shahzad Laghari is one of the best surgeon of urology and he is a professor in Liaquat University of Medical Sciences. Ashfaque Ahmad Laghari by profession is a chemical engineer and managing a one of the largest plant of LPG. Dr Nabi Bux (Laghari) Baloch was Vice Chancellor Sindh University, his son Ali Mohammad (Laghari) Baloch served as Secretary Irrigation. Haji Najamuddin Khan Laghari Sirewal (Senior Politician ) served as Minister and was from district Badin, while Zafar Laghari and Alan Khan Laghari were from Dadu district. Currently Hashim Laghari is Secretary Sindh, while there are a few Laghari serving and retired judges of the Sindh High Court as well.