The Karlugh Turks (Persian: ترکِ قارلوق) are a prominent Karluk Turkic tribe that resides mainly in the Hazara region of current Pakistan. These Karlugh Turks formed a Turki Shahi dynasty and ruled the state of Pakhli Sarkar for over 200 years from 1472 to 1703.
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Karlugh is a Persian variation of the word Qarluk.
At the end of Timur's invasion of Pakistan in 1398-99, Timur left behind a legion of Qarluk Turks as the rulers of the Hazara region of India (now part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa former North West Frontier Province of Pakistan). The locals called these Turks the Karlugh Turks and the legion Hazara-i-Karlugh.
The Karlugh Turks, having a central Asian origin, became the ruling class of Hazara and maintain this status until the early 18th century (1703). They formed a Turki Shahi state with the arrival of Sultan Shahab-ud-Din from Kabul who established his rule in the entire Pakhli (Hazara) region. This state came to be known as Pakhli Sarkar with Guli Bagh as its capital. Locals always called them Rajas, but they continued to use the title of Sultan till end of their rule in Hazara. However, later on, when their rule came to an end they assumed the title of Raja, a name given to their ancestors by the locals. However, a small population of Turks retained "Usmani" and "Khan" with their names.
The Mughals began establishing their control in India with Babur's victory in the First battle of Panipat in 1526. During the entire period of Mughal ascendancy in Indian sub-continent, Mughals acknowledged Karlughs as the rulers of Pakhli sarkar. In addition, probably due to their common Central Asian origin, Mughals never levied taxes on the state of Pakhli Sarkar.
The relations between Pakhli Sarkar and Mughal Empire took a tumble during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar. The then Karlugh Turk ruler Sultan Hussain Khan revolted against the Mughals citing increased interference on the part of Mughal Empire. This revolt was successfully put down by Akbar who eventually pardoned and restored Sultan Hussain Khan as the ruler of Pakhli Sarkar.
The last Karlugh Turk ruler of Pakhli Sarkar was Sultan Mehmud Khurd. One of his brothers, Sultan Qyas-ud-din, was Wali-e-Tanawal (Lower), and the Wali-e-Tanawal (Upper) was Sultan Sahwaj. His brother Sultan Muqarrab was Wali-e-Dhamtor, i.e. Rush areas of present Abbottabad. Pakhli Sarkar had two other important governorships. One in the areas between Battagram and Thakot ruled by Shamsher Khan and other of Kashmir governed by Sultan Kamal. Both of these governors were close relatives of Turk rulers of Pakhli Sarkar. At that time Kashmir was part of Hazara (Pakhli Sarkar).
The introduction of Sikh rule into Hazara, commenced after 1818. In this year Hashim Khan, Turk, of Manakrai, murdered his fellow-chieftain, Kamal Khan (Karlugh). The latter's cause was espoused by the Tarin chief, Muhammad Khan, and to save himself Hashim Khan betrayed his country to the Sikhs. At his invitation Makhan Singh, the Sikh Governor of Rawalpindi, invaded Hazara with 500 sowars, built a fort at Serai Saleh, and levied tribute from the Haripur plain.
Sultan Maqarrab revolted against his own brother Sultan Mehmud Khurd, but was defeated by the Sultan due to intervention from the Delhi Sultanate. But this incident weakened the Turks permanently and they could never restore their previous strength. Karlal tribe gained strength and Jadun tribe came from across the river Indus to hasten the overthrow of the Turks. Ultimately, Jadoons from Swabi subjugated the Rush areas.
Around 1713 Sultan Mehmud Khurd went to Delhi never to return and his whereabouts from them unknown. His sons were too young to run the affairs of Pakhli Sarkar. The Karlugh Turk rule of Pakhli Sarkar came to an end when, in Sultan's absence, his son-in-law, Syed Jalal Baba hatched a conspiracy and invited Quraish Khankhails, Swatis and Syeds to attack Pakhli Sarkar.
Shamsher Khan, a loyal general of Sultan Mehmud Khurd, fought with great valour and put up a very strong resistance at Jhanjal fort of Thakot. After a siege of several months Swatis finally defeated Shamsher Khan, who was martyred in battle. However, after the fall of Jhanjer Fort, there was no one to put up resistance in the Rush areas. Swatis entered the Rush area of Hazara without any notable resistance.
After the Karlugh Turks were overthrown, the tribes Quraish Khankhails, Swatis and Syeds established their rule in the plains of Pakhli and mountains of Kaghan valley. These areas were then divided between the above mentioned tribes. Region of Mansehra to Sum Elai-Mang was handed over to the Quraish Khankhails. Kaghan valley was given to Syeds and Ogi and Swat was delivered to the Swatis.
The Karlugh Turks were then made to settle in various parts of Hazara and Kashmir. However, the Turks retained small jageers everywhere, like Manakrai (Haripur), Mohar (abbottabad), Behali (Mansehra), Barakot (Mansehra), Geerwal (Mansehra), Bayan (Abbottabad), Richbehn (Abbottabad), border of existing Pakistan and AJK up to Neelum Valley in Patika and some other villages and were never fully eliminated.
Immediately after the collapse of Pakhli, Upper Tanawl fell into the hands of Tanolis. Tanolis advanced towards Lower Tannawal and partially succeeded in confining Sultan Qyas-ud-din in his headquarter, Sherwan. Sultan Qyas-ud-din, younger brother of Sultan Mehmud, was Waali (Governor) of Tanawal. In Tanawal areas, Karlugh Turks retained their power for another 90 years. But ultimately, they were restricted to a small area of lower Tanawal from Sherwan (Abbottabad) to Behali (Mansehra).
Turks continued their rule in the areas between Sherwan and Mangal till the arrival of the Sikhs in 1817-18. They were deprived of further areas during the 1872 settlement. Under the settlement, they continued to possess about thirty thousand (30000) kanals, equivalent to 7,500 acres (30 km2) of lands between Richhbehn (Abbottabad) and Bahali (Mansehra).
Sultan Qyas-ud-din, son of Raja Habib Khan, continued to live in Sherwan, struggling against successive Tanolis attacks and controlling areas between Sherwan to Mangal including Behali. This was an era of turmoil for the Turks and they continuously struggled against Tanolis and then Sikhs till 1817.
Raja Anayat Khan, son of Raja Habib Khan, also continued the struggle. He could not sustain Tanolis attacks and left Sherwan. He had been shuttling between Behali(Mansehra) and Richhbehn(Abbottabad), keeping his permanent centre at Kakot(Abbottabad). The grave of Raja Anayat Khan is in Kakot. During his rule, the Turks re-constructed a fort between Kakot and Mochikot, called the Mochikot fort. This fort proved to be a very strong place of resistance for Turks because of its brilliant location. It was on a hilltop which was surrounded by water (Mangal) on three sides. To the south was a narrow path which barely allowed passage of only one horse at a time. Presently, only one wall of the Mochikot fort still exists. The Turks kept shifting from Kakot to Fort of Mochikot off and on, during attacks from adversaries.
Raja Asalat Khan was the first person who settled in Behali in around 1795. However, the Turks were dislodged from Behali by Sikhs in 1817. These Turks migrated to Kashmir and stayed with their relatives in Thangar, Lambian Pattian, Shawai, Turkan and Neelum Valley. After General Hari Singh Nalwa invited them back to resettle in Behali, they finally returned around one and a half years later. Disputes developed again with the Sikhs and the Behali Turks took asylum in the Mochikot fort. Raja Asalat Khan passed his last days in Richhbehn. He is buried in Sohlan Bala(Abbottabad) near Kot-reen graveyard.
Raja Asalat Khan had seven sons. Raja Ikhtiar Khan, Raja Zulfiqar Khan, Raja Mahal Khan, Raja Paras Khan, Raja Malak Khan, Raja Maazullah Khan and Raja Muttawalli Khan. Raja Ikhtiar Khan settled in Hassan Abdal. Raja Zulfiqar Khan in Richbehn. It may be clarified that in Richhbehn two branches of Turks reside. Later on Raja Sher Khan, the grand son of Raja Paras Khan, settled in Richhbehn. The descendants of Raja Sher Khan played a pivotal role in the area. Due to unknown reasons, the descendants of Raja Zulfiqar Khan were deprived of their possessions and did not influence the events in the area.
Raja Paras Khan, with the help of his brother Raja Maazullah Khan (both sons of Raja Asalat Khan), established control over the jageer on strong footing and started residing permanently in Behali. Sikh rule was generally miserable for the Turks of Behali. Turks of Behali joined British forces to overthrow Sikhs like all tribes of Hazara. Their valour and bravery was acknowledged by General Abbott—then Major Abbott and deputy commissioner of Hazara—in his letters addressed to Raja Mohibullah Khan, son of Raja Paras Khan, and to Raja Ghulam Khan, son of Raja Mohibbullah Khan.
Raja Maazulla Khan was murdered under mysterious conditions. His dead body, tied to the horse, was brought back to Behali by his horse. Raja Paras Khan was now alone to fight against adversaries. He rose to prominence and succeeded in regaining his lost authority and finally the Turks got permanent control in a sizeable area between Behali and Richhbehn (about 24 villages, or 45 thousand kanals). Areas between Richhbehn and Behali remained in the control of these Turks till the creation of Pakistan.
In the 1930s, all Turks of Behali joined Allama Inayatullah Khan Mashraqi's Khaksar movement. They actively participated in the Khaksar movement until the creation of Pakistan, and even after that for quite a long time.
The Turks of Bahali helped the British in the establishment of a school at Behali in 1872. This was the era when Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was trying to covince Indian Muslims to get an education. The Primary School in Bahali was amongst a first few schools established by Britishers in Hazara. Among all these schools, Bahali was the only one which was established on the request of the Rajas of Bahali. The other schools were established due to government initiatives.
From 1947 onward, either due to land reforms introduced by Khan Abdul Qayum Khan, then-Chief Minister NWFP, or due to selling out of lands on large scale, they lost a major portion of jageer between Richhbehn and Bahali. Particularly, Rajas of Richhbehn ruthlessly plundered the hard-earned ancestral land in a very short span of time and sold out their property, so much so that they did not spare their houses even. The same was done by Raja Dilawer Bahadur Jang Shahzada Khan, of Behali, who lived a prince life, but sold out all his property within a few years. However, the Turks of Behali are still in possession of about thirteen thousand kanals of land.
The Other sons of Raja Asalat were issueless. Raja Paras Khan had four sons. Raja Nadir Khan, Raja Saadullah Khan, Raja Mohibbullah Khan and Raja Mir Ahmad Khan. Raja Nadir's son Raja Sher khan shifted to Richhbehn and others stayed at Behali. A comfortable period started for Turks. They held a sizable land and their influence in the area grew with the passage of time.
The descendants of the Karlugh Turks continue to live in the Hazara area of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, mostly in the mountainous regions. They had continued to maintain a very secluded and exclusive lifestyle until the late 19th and early 20th century. According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 13, p. 79, published in 1909, some 2000 persons returned themselves as Turks, descendants of the Turkomans who came with Timur in 1391. It is more probable, given the fact that most Turk villages were in the inaccessible mountainous regions at the time of 1901 census, that the actual number could be as high as around 10,000.
Currently, some of the main Karlugh Turkish villages in Hazara Division are Manakrai and Bayan in Haripur District, Behali in Mansehra District, Mohar Kalan and RichhBehn in Abbottabad District and on the mountains between Pakistan and AJK from Shaheed Gali, Shawai, Kahori, Patthika, Bheri up to Neelum Valley.
Haji Raja Qalander khan migrated to a nearby village known as Rehar. A small family of Turks resides in this village. They also enjoy respect and influence in local politics.
After the loss of Pakhli state in 1703 and after 1872 settlement, most of the Turks dis parred in different areas of Hazara. The Turks are living in the villages near by abbottabad and Mansehra like Moharkalan, Behali (Mansehra), Barakot (Mansehra), Girwal (Mansehra), Bayan (Abbottabad), Richbehn (Abbottabad) etc. In Hazara the turks had made their non-political organization named as TURKWA "Turk Welfare Association"(Hazara).
After the loss of Pakhli state in 1703 and after 1872 settlement, nearly half of the Turk population migrated to nearby Hazara and Kashmir regions. In Azad Kashmir these migrated Turk clans are living in different villages like in Muzaffarabad they are present in Bararkot, Bheri, Lambian Pattian, Shawai, Chanjal(Pathika), Madar, Kahori, Gari Dupatta, Sanweyari, Chinari, Karnah(leepa valley), Kohala and in Muzaffarabad town. In Indian-held Kashmir these clans are found in Bara Mula, Bari pura, Srinagar and other adjoining areas. In Azad Kashmir Turks had made a non-political organisation namely "Turk Welfare Association (Reg: Azad Kashmir on May 2, 1984)". The milestone of this organisation was laid by DSP® Raja Muhammad Yousaf Khan Turk, Fazal-ur-Rehman Khan Turk, Professor Muhammad Afsar Usmani, Raja Ayub khan Turk, Marshal Muhammad Latif Khan Turk and other elders of Turk clans from different areas in 1983. In this very first meeting, Turks from Hazara also joined and Raja Ammanullah Khan (former speaker NWFP Assembly) and Raja Muhammad Irshad Khan (author Treekh-e-Hazara) actively participated. The Turks of Azad Kashmir are Hindko speaking.
Currently, the Karlugh Turks speak local languages such as Hindko and Urdu rather than Turki. Accounts of original descendants speaking Turki are abundant but considering the presence of Karlugh Turks in sub-continent since 1400 AD, the loss of Turki language could be potentially reasoned due to similar causes as those associated with the eventual replacement of Turki with Persian and eventually with other local languages as the prominent language in Mughal court and empire.