Sher Ahmad Khan
Encyclopedia
Sher Ahmad Khan, known as Khan of Makhad, was the Chief of the Sagri Khattak
s. He was also a Jagirdar of Shakardara in Kohat District
. The Dynasty was started by Ghazi Khan in the early 16th century during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Ghazi Khan moved from Kohat to Makhad
after conquering the area. According to Attock
District Gazetteer, the Sagri Khattaks conquered the area up to East of Jehlum during Emperor Akbar's rein however this account is unsubstantiated. Khan of Makhad flourished under the rule of Ahmed Shah Durrani due to his alliance with the ruler. Since Makhad lies in bank of Indus River
, its location was of great importance for the rulers.
Khans had a considerable Jagir and their income came from gold washings in River Indus, salt mines and agriculture. Ghulam Mustafa Khan, the great grandfather of Sher Ahmed Khan was a man of great prominence. He resisted all Sikh
and Afghan
attempts to win him over. He not only held Makhad and Shakardara but also succeeded in an attack on fort of Jabi, garrisoned by Sikhs. He died in 1861 handing over the chieftanship to his eldest son Ghulam Mohammed Khan. He was one of three landed holders of Rawalpindi
who were exempt from most of the provisions of Arms Act as "Great Sardars and Jagirdars of Punjab" (The Gazetteer of Attock District 1895). Sher Ahmed Khan was maternal uncle of Chief of Gakhar
s, Raja Erij Zaman Khan.
According to Attock District Gazetteer, Sagri Khattaks are of fine physique, brave independent character and make excellent soldiers. With the love of horses they gather ponies all across Frontier and trade them as far as South Calcutta. Their speech is soft or Western Dialect of Pushto, although most of the men can understand and use Punjabi. They marry among themselves and stay aloof from other tribes.
Khattak
Khattak or Khatak , is the name of an Afghan tribe. speaking a variant of the Kandahari Pashto. They are accorded the status of being one of the original and true Afghans. The tribe is settled along the western bank of the river Indus from as north upwards as Sammah; modern day Lund Khwar & Sher...
s. He was also a Jagirdar of Shakardara in Kohat District
Kohat District
Kohat is a district of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, Kohat city is the capital of the district. It is inhabited by various Pashtun tribes such as Afridi,Khattaks, Bangash and the Orakzaies. The main language of the district is Pashto....
. The Dynasty was started by Ghazi Khan in the early 16th century during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Ghazi Khan moved from Kohat to Makhad
Makhad
Makhad is a hilly historical town in Attock District in the Northern part of Punjab province, Pakistan. It is one of the last towns separating the Punjab from the rugged North-West Frontier Province...
after conquering the area. According to Attock
Attock
Attock is a city located in the northern border of the Punjab province of Pakistan and the headquarters of Attock District...
District Gazetteer, the Sagri Khattaks conquered the area up to East of Jehlum during Emperor Akbar's rein however this account is unsubstantiated. Khan of Makhad flourished under the rule of Ahmed Shah Durrani due to his alliance with the ruler. Since Makhad lies in bank of Indus River
Indus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
, its location was of great importance for the rulers.
Khans had a considerable Jagir and their income came from gold washings in River Indus, salt mines and agriculture. Ghulam Mustafa Khan, the great grandfather of Sher Ahmed Khan was a man of great prominence. He resisted all Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
and Afghan
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
attempts to win him over. He not only held Makhad and Shakardara but also succeeded in an attack on fort of Jabi, garrisoned by Sikhs. He died in 1861 handing over the chieftanship to his eldest son Ghulam Mohammed Khan. He was one of three landed holders of Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
who were exempt from most of the provisions of Arms Act as "Great Sardars and Jagirdars of Punjab" (The Gazetteer of Attock District 1895). Sher Ahmed Khan was maternal uncle of Chief of Gakhar
Gakhar
Gakhar may refer to:*Gakhars, an ancient clan predominantly in present day Punjab, Pakistan.*Gakhar Hindus, the Hindu section of the Gakhar clan*Ghakhar Mandi, a small city in northeastern Punjab, Pakistan...
s, Raja Erij Zaman Khan.
According to Attock District Gazetteer, Sagri Khattaks are of fine physique, brave independent character and make excellent soldiers. With the love of horses they gather ponies all across Frontier and trade them as far as South Calcutta. Their speech is soft or Western Dialect of Pushto, although most of the men can understand and use Punjabi. They marry among themselves and stay aloof from other tribes.