Mashwanis

The Mashwani (also Moshwani, Mishwani, or Miswani) (Urdu: مشوانی‎) are an indigenous tribe of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa allied to the Pashtun, living predominantly in Pakistan today.

History

The Mashwani tribe claims descent from the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah and her husband Ali Ibne Abu Talib.

Historical role

The Mashwanis played an active role in resistance against the Sikh invasion and occupation of the Hazara region during the 19th century.[1] During the Sikh occupation of Hazara, Muslims were persecuted and Muslim monuments were destroyed.

Mashwanis have been historically soldiers and were part of different armies, especially the British Indian Army which they enrolled in, in sizable numbers between the 1850s and 1940s.[2] Many Mashwanis are now soldiers in the Pakistan Army.

References

  1. ↑ Dr SB Panni, Tareekh i Hazara Urdu, 1969
  2. ↑ Petrie, Major GJ Recruitment of Various Tribes of North Punjab and NWFP Calcutta, 1945

More about mashwani tribe at Mashwani Tribe near Sirikot

Further reading

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