Kohlu District
| Kohlu District | |
|---|---|
| District | |
 | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Balochistan |
| Capital | Kohlu |
| Government | |
| • Chief of Marri | Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri |
| • Chief of Zarkoon | Sardar Rasheed Zarkoon |
| Population (1998) | |
| • Total | 99,000 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| Number of Tehsils | 3 |
Kohlu (Balochi: کوہلو) is a district of the Balochistan province of Pakistan. It is bounded in the north by Loralai District, Dera Bugti in the south, in the east Rojhan-Mazari and Sibi District in the west. Kohlu District covers 7,456 square miles (19,310 km2) and according to the 1998 census of Pakistan had a population of 99,000.[1]
The area is mostly inhibited by a nomadic or semi-nomadic population, who camps with their flocks of sheep and moves with the seasons to find pasture. The area is generally mountainous and main localities are Kohlu, Fazal Chel, Maiwand, Kahan, Bijarwadh and Tadri. The district is divided in three tehsils, i.e., Kohlu, Maiwand and Kahan with eight union councils. The history of Kohlu District is primarily the history of Marri and Zarkoon tribes. It is a land of brave and courageous people who stood firm against the British rule and never accepted their hegemony.
History
In the early 16th century, three main tribes, i.e., Bijarani, Ghazini and Loharani, emerged in small groups. Bijar Khan the cousin of Chakar E Azam founded the Bijarani clan, the Loharani from the Loharki area of Kohlu they named after that area, and Ghazini clan was founded by Buledi people came from that area. The tribe initially was a union of Baloch tribes who came into it and merged into Marri. The British army occupied Kahan in May 1840 but were soon forced by the Marris to evacuate. Despite a number of treaties signed by the British with the Marris, the law and order situation could not be improved, as the Marris thought of the British as illegal occupants of their territory. Thus everything related to the British men, allies or installation was supposed to be attacked.
In 1898, Sardar Khair Bakhsh Marri with many of his tribesmen migrated to Kabul as a protest against the British occupation. However, he came back after some time unconditionally. After independence, the area remained a political agency. The tribal leadership started voicing for unity of Baloch tribes and for an independent Balochistan. National sentiments grew rapidly stronger. After the arrest of Khan of Kalat in 1958, the tribesmen started a guerrilla war, although on a limited scale, against the government. The army was sent to control the movement, but its presence further deteriorated the situation. Mir Sher Muhammad Bijarani, Marri (also known as General Sheroff) took the leadership of the Farrari Movement. This movement ended in 1969.
After the dismissal of the first elected government of Balochistan in 1973, a serious conflict started between the government and the political leadership of the province. While responding to the situation, the tribesmen in Kohlu started a large-scale insurgence in the area. After a strong military operation they migrated to Afghanistan with their leaders. Coincidentally, history repeated itself and Sardar Khair Bakhsh Khan Marri (chief of Marris nowadays) went into voluntary self–exile and reached Kabul in 1981.
Administration
The district of Kohlu is administratively subdivided into the following tehsils:
- Kohlu
- Khuda e Dad Sheher
- Karam Khan Sheher
- MIR Hazar Wadh
- Marri Colony
- Killi Sardar Feroz Khan Zarkoon
- Girsani
- Khuda E Dad Thokh
- Jandran
- Bala Dhaka
- Kuchar Shahejav
- Bagh Daf
- Bhir Booz
- Sfaid
- Thirkha
- Thamboo
- Mast Twakli
- Pazha
- Kahan
- Chapi Kach
- Janat Ali
- Soher en Kour
- Marri Booheri
- Maiwand
- Manjhera
- Herab
- Jiveni
- Sufaid
- Neeli
- Thadri
- Bijjar Wadh
- Baghar Wad
- Chakar Thank
- Samo Pati
- Kohi
See also
References
- ↑ 1998 Census of Pakistan
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Coordinates: 29°53′59″N 69°15′03″E / 29.8997°N 69.2507°E