Wazir (tribe)
Encyclopedia
Wazirs or Waziris are a Pashtun
tribe settled in the North Waziristan
and South Waziristan
agencies of Pakistan
as well in the urban cities of Tank
, F.R Bannu,i.e Domel and adjacent villages, Karachi
and Lahore
. Across the border, they can also be found in Paktia
, Khost
and Paktika
provinces of Afghanistan
. Waziris are the dominating tribe of North, South Waziristan and the FR Bannu region.
and Kushan admixture. Others claim that the Wazir resided in the mountainous region for several thousand years in a similar fashion to the Afridis. Wazir are the descendants of Waziri who was the son of Sulaiman, the son of Kuki, the son of Karlan
and grandson of Qais Abdur Rashid
. So they are usually described as being a tribe of Karlani Pashtuns.
From this common origin come the Wazirs, a title which properly includes the Wazirs, Gurbaz, Lalawazir in Kugiani in the area of the Sufed Koh in Afghanistan and Mahsud
s. However, the word "Wazir" has now practically been appropriated by the former. Wazirs were and are considered as a sign of fear for other tribes. Now a days, Wazirs are the most educated, talented and influential tribe of this region.
In the words of Sir Olaf Caroe, who acted as the former governor of the British Indian Frontier, "Wazirs are like brilliant but scattered Tigers".
.
beyond Kharakamar. They are divided into two tribes: Ahmadzai and Othmanzai. Ahmad Zai has two main branches, sain khel (Husain khel) and kalokhel. The Othmanzai are divided into three main sections namely: Ibrahim Khel, Wali Khel and Mohmit Khel. These sections are further subdivided into several sub-sections. The waziris of South waziristan and Thal (also called Keerlostai by local people) are of the Ahmad Zai wazir sub-tribe, while the waziris from North waziristan and Baka Khel are of Othmanzai wazir sub-tribe.
The Wazir tribes are divided into sub-tribes governed by male village elders, who meet in a tribal jirga
. Socially and religiously, Waziristan is an extremely conservative area. Women are carefully guarded, and every household must be headed by a male figure. Tribal cohesiveness is also strong, through so-called Collective Responsibility Acts in the Frontier Crimes Regulation.
They have a formidable reputation as warriors and are known for their frequent blood feuds. Traditionally, feuding local Waziri religious leaders have enlisted outsiders while this is not the reality as quoted by the local people who claim they are totally against the foreign militants living here.
send back valuable income to their respective families by working outside of the region. Wazir's have earned a reputation for assuring the arrival of shipments on time through some of the most treacherous and dangerous routes (e.g. Karakorum Highway) and as such, are considered the country's lifeline in commercial goods transport. Furthermore, Wazir are prominent businessmen in almost all of Pakistan's major urban centres, including Karachi
, Lahore
, Islamabad
, Rawalpindi
, Sialkot
and Multan
.
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...
tribe settled in the North Waziristan
North Waziristan
North Waziristan is the northern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering . Waziristan comprises the area west and south-west of Peshawar between the Tochi river to the north and the Gomal river to the south, forming part of Pakistan's...
and South Waziristan
South Waziristan
South Waziristan is the southern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . Waziristan comprises the area west and southwest of Peshawar between the Tochi River to the north and the Gomal River to the south, forming...
agencies of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
as well in the urban cities of Tank
Tank (Pakistan)
Tank or Tonk , is the capital city of Tank District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The city's location near Waziristan.- Location :It is located at 32º13' N. and 70º32' E and is situated to the north-west of the Indus River and close to the Takht-i-Sulaiman Range. Tank is hot and humid in summer...
, F.R Bannu,i.e Domel and adjacent villages, Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
and Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. Across the border, they can also be found in Paktia
Paktia Province
Paktia , is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, in the east of the country. Its capital is Gardez. The population is predominantly Pashtun.- History:...
, Khost
Khost Province
Khost is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the east of the country. Khost province used to be part of Paktia province in the past...
and Paktika
Paktika Province
Paktika is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the south-east of the country. Most of the population is Pashtun. Its capital is Sharan.-Political and military situation:...
provinces of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Waziris are the dominating tribe of North, South Waziristan and the FR Bannu region.
Origins
Wazir is a Pasthun tribe. Wazir is Basically the name of a person. Whose Successors are known as Wazir's. Shajarah (Family Tree) ((Wazir's History)) Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S.W.S) → Hazrat Ishaq( A.S.W.S) → Hazrat Yaqoob (A.S.W.S) → Yahooda → Royal → Mais → Utbaa → Qais → Saawal → Ariya → Aab Asm-e-Tarif → Aslam → Mandool → Zwand → Tarah → Aamil → Lowai → Thaal → Sohaib → Aabi → Qamrood → Badoon → Shamool → Aalim → Qais → Minhal → Khadaifa → Aamal → Karam → Nihal → Aasim → Naardoo → Saalah → Shalam → Mahlool → Ghain → Ramaan → Sikandar → Jalandar → Maraa → Naeem → Utba → Saawal → Mais → Qais Abdur Rashid → Karlan → Kakay → Sulaiman → Wazir. Wazir Has two Sons ( Khudrai and Laalai ). Laalai departed from Showal to Nangahar white Mountainous ranges due to enmity. Khudrai has three sons ( 1.Musa Darwaish 2.Mehmood 3. Mubarak ) Musa Was a religious person so got the simili "Darwaish" . The Wazirs are the most isolated,the Bravest, The Warriors and most Patriotic tribe and have lived in the Pashtun [tribal belt Pakistan) region for many centuries. Like most other Pashtun tribes, the Waziris might be descendants of Aryans or the later migrant Scythians, with some HephthaliteHephthalite
The Hephthalites or Hephthalite is a pre-Islamic Greek term for local Abdali Afghans, who's famous ruler was Nazak Abdali . Hephthalites were a Central Asian nomadic confederation of the AD 5th-6th centuries whose precise origins and composition remain obscure...
and Kushan admixture. Others claim that the Wazir resided in the mountainous region for several thousand years in a similar fashion to the Afridis. Wazir are the descendants of Waziri who was the son of Sulaiman, the son of Kuki, the son of Karlan
Karlan
Karlan or Kalanai is said to have been a direct descendant of Ghurghusht the second son of the legendary Qais Abdur Rashid, the folklorish ancestor of the Pashtun people. He was the son of Burhan himself the son of Ghurghusht. Because of the numerous tribes associated with his name, he is sometimes...
and grandson of Qais Abdur Rashid
Qais Abdur Rashid
Qais Abdur Rashid Khan , also known as Kesh, Kish, Qesh and Imraul Qais is a legendary ancestor of the Pashtun race, claimed to be the first ethnic Pashtun who travelled to Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia during the early days of Islam.) He is believed to be the 37th descendent of King Saul .He...
. So they are usually described as being a tribe of Karlani Pashtuns.
From this common origin come the Wazirs, a title which properly includes the Wazirs, Gurbaz, Lalawazir in Kugiani in the area of the Sufed Koh in Afghanistan and Mahsud
Mahsud
Mahsud is a Pashtun tribe in South Waziristan, a tribal region in Pakistan. Mahsud are considered to be one of the bravest and toughest Pashtun Tribes. The Mahsud tribe lives in the centre of South Waziristan valley, surrounded on three sides by the Darwesh Waziris, and being shut off by the...
s. However, the word "Wazir" has now practically been appropriated by the former. Wazirs were and are considered as a sign of fear for other tribes. Now a days, Wazirs are the most educated, talented and influential tribe of this region.
In the words of Sir Olaf Caroe, who acted as the former governor of the British Indian Frontier, "Wazirs are like brilliant but scattered Tigers".
Language
The two agencies and the Wazirs from Bannu have quite distinct characteristics, though both tribes are subgroups of the Wazir Tribe and speak a common Wazirwola language, which is in fact a dialect of the Pashto languagePashto language
Pashto , known as Afghani in Persian and Pathani in Punjabi , is the native language of the indigenous Pashtun people or Afghan people who are found primarily between an area south of the Amu Darya in Afghanistan and...
.
Tribes and Sub-Tribes
The Wazirs dominate the hilly tracts; Khaisora, Sherathala Plain, Kaitu valley, Lower stretches of the Kurram River,Frontier regions of Bannu i.e. Thal (adjacent area to Karak), Baka khel, Zoni Khel (area between North waziristan anb Bannu) and upper parts of the Tochi ValleyTochi Valley
Tochi Valley, , is one of the main routes into Afghanistan from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan.The Tochi Valley leads from Bannu District through tribal areas, and is inhabited by the Dawari tribe. The valley is divided into two parts, known as Upper and Lower Dawar, by a narrow pass called the...
beyond Kharakamar. They are divided into two tribes: Ahmadzai and Othmanzai. Ahmad Zai has two main branches, sain khel (Husain khel) and kalokhel. The Othmanzai are divided into three main sections namely: Ibrahim Khel, Wali Khel and Mohmit Khel. These sections are further subdivided into several sub-sections. The waziris of South waziristan and Thal (also called Keerlostai by local people) are of the Ahmad Zai wazir sub-tribe, while the waziris from North waziristan and Baka Khel are of Othmanzai wazir sub-tribe.
The Wazir tribes are divided into sub-tribes governed by male village elders, who meet in a tribal jirga
Loya jirga
A loya jirga is a type of jirga regarded as "grand assembly," a phrase in the Pashto language meaning "grand council." A loya jirga is a mass meeting usually prepared for major events such as choosing a new king, adopting a constitution, or discussing important national political or emergency...
. Socially and religiously, Waziristan is an extremely conservative area. Women are carefully guarded, and every household must be headed by a male figure. Tribal cohesiveness is also strong, through so-called Collective Responsibility Acts in the Frontier Crimes Regulation.
They have a formidable reputation as warriors and are known for their frequent blood feuds. Traditionally, feuding local Waziri religious leaders have enlisted outsiders while this is not the reality as quoted by the local people who claim they are totally against the foreign militants living here.
Transport Industry
The Wazir tribes have managed to monopolize the transport industry of Pakistan running commercial trucks loaded with goods throughout the country. Due to the relative limited resources of the Waziristan region, many Wazir as well as MahsudMahsud
Mahsud is a Pashtun tribe in South Waziristan, a tribal region in Pakistan. Mahsud are considered to be one of the bravest and toughest Pashtun Tribes. The Mahsud tribe lives in the centre of South Waziristan valley, surrounded on three sides by the Darwesh Waziris, and being shut off by the...
send back valuable income to their respective families by working outside of the region. Wazir's have earned a reputation for assuring the arrival of shipments on time through some of the most treacherous and dangerous routes (e.g. Karakorum Highway) and as such, are considered the country's lifeline in commercial goods transport. Furthermore, Wazir are prominent businessmen in almost all of Pakistan's major urban centres, including Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
, 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...
, Sialkot
Sialkot
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...
and Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
.
Famous Personalities
- Faqir of Ipi: Haji Amir zaali khan alias Faqir of Api was a renowned freedom activist and took part in the violent struggle against the British rajRajRaj and Rajya mean "royalty" or "kingdom" in many Sanskrit and Hindu languages, and may refer to:- Indian history :*British Raj, the British Empire in India...
. He was the only freedom fighter at the end of the British raj. He was a strong supporter of the Pakhtunistan cause. Haji saab (Faqir of Api) was assisted by the tribesen from FR Bannu as well as south Waziristan against the British raj.