Sirki or Sarki (Urdu: سرکی ) is the name of a Samma Muslim Rajput tribe found in southern Punjab and Sindh, Pakistan.[1]
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The tribe is concentrated in Districts of Jacobabad, Ranipur and Thatta. The chief of the tribe, Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Sarki resides in Jacobabad and hence it is the strong hold of Sarkis from all over the province.
In Punjab, they are found mainly in Alipur, Kot Addu Tehsil of Muzaffargarh District. They are also found in Rajanpur District as well in Rahim Yar Khan.
The family of Sarki caste is as old as India is. This caste was grown in India and their majority was in the state of India named Jodhpur. The Sarki were the ruling family of the Jodhpur state. But nowadays their majority is in the Pakistan's district, Jacobabad and their tribal head (chieftain) Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Sarki’s family has also been actively involved in politics since the early nineteenth century with Khan Sahib Sardar Sohrab Khan Sarki being (M.L.A.) in 1936 and among the 42 M.L.A.s in 1940 to vote for the creation of Pakistan. He was honored with the title of Khan Sahib by the British government at an adolescent age recognizing his countless efforts for the betterment of Jacobabad locality. Thereafter the death of Khan Sahib, his elder son Sardar Haji Wahid Bux Khan Sarki became the head of Sarki tribe along with being a well-known politician in Sindh.Whereas in most of the area's in Sindh the tribal systems might have weakened, but in the case of sarki tribe the (sirdari)system works effectively and efficiently.
Immediately after the death of Sardar Wahid Bux Khan Sarki his son Dr. Sohrab Sarki became the member of provincial assembly (M.P.A) in 1993. He contested the election as an independent candidate and at the time he was only 25 years of age. Mir Hassan Khoso his competitor contested the election as an independent candidate and was losing the support of masses .Nasurullah Khan Bijarani was the candidate of PPP and Jacobabad being a stronghold of the party.Dr Suhrab khan used his wits and used PPP flag all through his campaign.Election was won;Dr. Sohrab Khan Sarki joined Pakistan People’s Party and became an active politician beginning his political career. Dr. Sohrab Khan Sarki due to his hard work and dedication was subsequently elected as a member of provincial assembly in 1997 and 2002. Dr. Sohrab Sarki shortly after being elected in 2002 from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) ticket, was a focus of political victimization. A highlight was his elder brother Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Sarki being booked in ATC court for murder cases as he was said to have close links with a notorious dacoit Budho Sarki. Hence the eminent steps taken by the establishment forced him to change his loyalty and support the regime of Gen. Pervaiz Musharaf. However in 2004 he was sworn in as a minister of Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim’s cabinet. He continued to serve as an Inter-Provincial Coordination minister till the end of 2007. He contested the general elections in 2008 and managed to sweep the polls in his constituency however the opponent appealed in the High Court of Sindh and re-election was announced in the constituency. Dr. Sohrab Khan Sarki boycotted the re-election fearing that he may not win the election in close supervision of the Govt. machinery and Mir Hassan khoso was elected member of provincial assembly.
The legal system and law enforcement agencies in contrast to cities like Karachi are unable to exercise dominion on their populace in Jacobabad. The locals share a tough and a primitive way of life unchanged for centuries with their neighboring province Baluchistan. The result is a very monotonous and discomforting impact on the youth, where each day brings in a negative affluence. The only measure to affix this barbarianism is to confront the inhabitants with education and twenty first century industrialization. This fact was realized by the Sardar Zulfiqar,Imdad khan and Dr. Sohrab whereby construction of schools and colleges started at a substantial level. These schools and colleges were majorly constructed on lands donated by the Sarki family.
Jirga system being the main system of law existent in Jacobabad cannot be shorn of and a progressive side to this system is adopted for the dissolution of conflicts by Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Sarki. Where certain primitive and Barbarian rules of local law have been abolished and no more practiced, examples of such laws are selling of female infants etc.