Swati (Pashtun tribe)

The Swati is a tribe dwelling in the districts of Mansehra, Batgram, Shangla, Torghar, Elum (Swat), Dir, Bajaur Agency and Malakand of the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

The province is mountainous, and home to historical places such as Pakhli (Lower Pakhal/Upper Pakhal), Agror, Thakot, Balakot, Kaghan, Black Mountain (Torghar) and Allai.

History and origin of the name

The term "Swati" refers to a large tribe of mixed origins^[1] which occupied the area of Elum (present Swat), Dir, Bajuar, Malakand, Pakhli Sarkar, presently Hazara Division and parts of Kashmir.

Tribal divisions

Swatis are divided into three great clans, Ghebri, Mamiali and Mitravi of which the first claim to be Tajik, the Mamiali Yousafzai Pashtun, and the Mitravi claims to be of Durrani origin. But, it's very difficult to recognize and segregate the tribes of Swatis on the basis of blood except for Jahangeeris (Khans of Mansehra town) who are considered to be Old Swatis of Swat by the other Swati tribes.

The Ghebri, a section of upper Pakhli, occupy Kaghan, Balakot, Ghari Habibullah, Mansehra, Dhodial, Shinkiari, Batagram, Thakot and Konsh while the Mamiali and Mitravi dwell in Bherkund, Agror, Takri and Deshi. The Allai have a mosaic population from all the tribes. These groups have been further divided into many subsections and Khels.

Swatis are bilinguals, speaking Hindko in addition to their mother tongue Pushto. They observe the Pathan code of honor Pukhtoonwali very strictly and call it Swatiwali.

Sub-tribes

The Swatis are divided into many sub-tribes: Jehangiris, Iznali, Arghoshal, Malkal,Torkhel,Mitrawi, Sarkhailee, Mamya or Mamaili, and Lughmani.^[2]

• Arghoshal and Malkal, the largest sub-tribes, are settled in Mansehra, Chitti Dheri, Sufaida, Dhodial, Shinkiari, Tanda, Baffa, Shanai Bala-Bedadi, Torghar, Oghi, Kaghan, Balakot, Garhi Habibullah, Jabbori, Batagram, Thakot, Konsh Valley, Bherkund and Khaki.
• Mitrawi, Sarkhailee and Mamaili are the second largest sub-tribes settled in Torghar, Oghi. Iznali is a small sub-section or clan of mixed origins adopted into the main Swati tribal polity and can be found in Battal, Ichrian, Kotly, Hilot, Khawajgan, Agror, Tikri Valley, Sherpur, Malikpur, Trangree, Giddarpur, Sokai, Tirha and Balakot. The Lughmani is a small sub-section or clan of mixed origins adopted into the main Swati tribal polity and can be found in Baffa, Mansehra and Balakot. There are Jhalangi Swati living in Khawajgan.
• Panjmeral, Doadal, Deshan, Panjgol and Jahangiris are the third largest sub-tribes settled in Mansehra city, Battagram town, Battagram District, Ajmera, Tikri, Sandasar, Chitta Batta, Atter Shisha, Gijbori, Kotkay, Pakhal Valley, Siran Valley and Kaghan Valley.
• Allai is inhabited by all the sub-tribes.^[3]

Notable people

This is an incomplete list that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

• Azam Khan Swati, NWFP/KPK head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party
• Wajih uz Zaman Khan, member of parliament in the NWFP/KPK
• Reham Khan, journalist, media person and wife of politician Imran Khan

References