Mianwali (Punjabi, Urdu: میانوالی) is the capital city of Mianwali District in the north-west of Punjab province, Pakistan. The city is located at 32°34'60 N and 71° 32'60E with an altitude of 211 metres (695 feet).^[1] In November 1901, North West Frontier Province was carved out of Punjab and present day towns of Mianwali, Isa Khel, Kalabagh, and Kundian were separated from Bannu District (NWFP) and hence a new district was made with the headquarters in Mianwali city and placed in Punjab. The municipal committee was made in December 1903 and remained operational since then.

The Niazis, a Lodhi Afghan tribe currently control the politics and other issues of governance of the area. 70% of the population is of Afghan origin.

Infrastructure

Mianwali city is the economic and commercial hub of the district. There are several educational institutions up to post-graduate level, affiliated with the University of Punjab. The city has an airport built near the old World War II aerodrome. This is presently called PAF Base Mianwali. It is one of the major operational bases of the country. The No.1 Fighter Conversion Unit of the PAF is stationed here. There is also a railway connecting the city with Kundian and Multan to the south and Attock and Rawalpindi to the north. The railways were a part of the now obsolete "North Western Railways" (NWR), which was operational during British colonial rule in the subcontinent. After the partition of India in 1947 it was renamed "Pakistan Western Railways" and was again renamed after December 1971 as Pakistan Railways.

The main highways connecting the city to the other parts of the country include the Sargodha-Lahore road [N-60], MM Road ( Mianwali-Muzaffargarh road ), Talagang-Rawalpindi road, and the Kalabagh- Bannu road [N-60]. The Balkassar interchange connects Mianwali to the M2 motorway. The Thal canal traverses the city and makes the surroundings a picturesque place.

The city is famous for the shrine of Mian Sultan Zakria (RA) whose father Mian Ali founded Mianwali village, in the 16th century.(Researchers need some documentary proof) The son is said to have exhibited supernatural powers from an early age and many miraculous deeds are ascribed to him. His name is frequently taken as an oath , and his shrine is not uncommonly the scene of settlement of civil disputes, in which one party has bound himself to abide by any statement made at shrine by the other party.

The city has its own FM Radio Station, a municipal library, a sports complex, a hockey stadium (the Tariq Niazi Hockey Stadium), and a couple of parks for recreation.

History

Of the early history of the district nothing can be stated with any certainty, beyond the fact that its inhabitants were Hindus, and that before the Christian era the country formed an integral portion of the Graeco-Bactrian Empire of Kabul and the Punjab.^[2]

During British rule, the Indian empire was subdivided into province, divisions and districts, after the independence of Pakistan divisions remained the third tier of government until 2000. The British had made the towns of Mianwali and Isa Khel tehsil headquarters of Bannu District then part of Dera Ismail Khan Division of Punjab province. The population of Mianwali according to the 1901 census of India was 3,591.^[3]

In November 1901, the North-West Frontier Province was carved out of Punjab and the towns of Mianwali, Isa Khel, Kalabagh, and Kundian were separated from Bannu District (Bannu became part of NWFP) and hence a new district was made with the headquarters in Mianwali city and placed in Punjab. The district became a part of Multan Division. There were four tehsils namely Mianwali, Isa Khel, Bhakkar, and Layyah. Layyah was included in the Muzaffargarh District in 1909. The district became a part of Sargodha Division in 1961. Bhakkar Tehsil was carved out of Mianwali District and was made a separate district inside Sargodha Division w.e.f. 01-07-1982.

Tribes and Castes

Although Islam has been the dominant religion here since the days of Mehmud Ghaznavi, Hinduism remained the ancient religion and the dominant force before the arrival of Islam and its culture and caste system left indelible marks on the local customs. Thus ethnic, tribal and caste-based divisions are evident in the region and people are known by their tribal affiliations which when over expressed can be counter productive. However with increasing literacy and media, trends are changing and people are deviating from the orthodoxy.

Niazis have a history of almost 250 years in this region. They came from the plains of Lakki Marwat, Tank and Bannu. Prior to their immigrations to this region they were concentrated in the Marwat plains shared by both Marwats and Niazis. Marwat and Niazis both are Lodi Afghans and thus share common ancestry. There exist the accounts that Marwats and Niazis battled near the banks of Kurram River and Niazis had to leave the land and take refuge at "Tarna" (nowadays called Isakhel). Tarna is a corruption of the Greek word Terra tureena or Ποια βαθιά θέση "what a deepest place." One of Elexander's General visited the bankment of the river Indus whose remarks still vibrant for the area. However, Niazis were able to establish themselves at trans-indus village of Isakhel which at that time was inhabited by the pastoral Jats and Awans. Then Niazi plundering continued across the Indus into the Mianwali area where they established and became the main dominating tribe.

Qureshis trace their origin as the descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from his daughter Fatimah. Qureshis are identified as Bukharis, kazmis, Gillanis, makhdooms and Naqvis. The latter mainly adhere to the Shiite branch of Islam. A Syed in Mianwali is respected one, no matter whatever the sect he belongs to. Before advent of Islam, Dandi, Rokhree and Moochh were once a famous seat of Rajpoot A'heer, who were animal breeders, resided nearby the river Indus. There were some famous hindu tribes, namely Gharoo, Khemat, Ghakkar, Dhaulka, Kallu, Dhoor, etc. They were converted to Islam after 6th centry A.D.

The word "mian" is a title or honourific that is used by holyman, priest or respectable old men of any area. The word belongs to old stock of late dravidian period. Brahvi language is one its offshoot. This word is blend of (1) meiata "one who care about, one who take care of something precious," and the last part of it is "anda" means holy shadow of the goddess.

The former part of the word is used in sense of "a mother," who cares about, brings up or provide food to her children. The word "meiata" is a natural word, inarticulated by homo sepein as well as animels. This word is termed as soft and supple one.

The gensis of the word "mi'an" is due to a Goddess "Arme'an" who had been worshipped by late races of Aryan holding position in the middle and western parts of the sub continent. Areas are included such as Kandhar down to indian Punjab.

The outlook of the goddess "Arme'an," carrying green and yellow tender branches of wheat and vegitables, which is sign of creation. This goddess is said to be shadow of "Durga" Devi, is the oldest goddess of creation, once worshipped by pre-Aryans. The primus hindus tribes accepted their goddess "Duraga" and Gantree system.

in 644 A.D. Islam entered upper parts of Kandhar by enthralling the Budhist races of Afghanistan, Hindus of Western Punjab and especially Aryans who usually worshipped "Arme'an." They embraced Islam and forsaken pagans rituals. But there are some cultural bonds or rites which are still practised by people of the Punjab. Their surnames, titles, honorifics, name of castes, and tribes are still used, which is a source of their pride.

We can conclude that the words like "mian" or "miana" not poured out of arabic sources rather these are of local old words of pre-aryans, or late dravidian period. This subcontinent is famous for the oldest 27 languages of the world, and some of these, are utilized by Pakistanis.

The Miana clan living at Wan Bhachran originated from Pindi Bhattian. They are Bhatti (Rajputs) by caste. According their pedigree chart and the famous book Punjab ka muqadma by Hanif Ramay they are directly descended from the famous Rai Abdullah Khan Bhatti, known as Dulla Bhatti, whose one son was sent away as punishment from Mughal King Akbar. He fought with the neighbouring clans and took over their land. They are said to be Miana because their ancestor was a holyman who stopped fighting with the tribals over the land and became a holyman. Some Miana living in Wan Bhachran use title of Malik while others still use Mian in their names.

Awan living in Mianwali are believed to be the sole occupants of "Mianwali Salt Range" for about 1500 years; long before the Niazi flight into the plains, some Awan tribes settled in the plains. They established their strongholds at Kalabagh and Jalalpur across the Indus, but mainly remained in the plains and were outnumbered when Niazis arrived in this region. In fact Ghakkars controlled this entire region and they were defeated by the Ahmed Shah Abdali's forces which paved the way for the Niazi expansion. Awans claim themselves to be of Arab ( as descendants of a son of fourth right guided caliph Ali) origin which is disputed by many British researchers and anthropologists. Awan residing at Anga and Naushera are said to be sons and daughters of Qutab Shah, who came in the company of Mehmood of Ghazni. Qutab Shah married there and had a good number of wives, who gave birth to a good number of chilren. Awan residing at Anga are entitled to be called Qutab Shahi Awan only. The rest of Awan are Avar Huns.

Jats have been divided into many subcastes and very few identify themselves as jats. They, along with Awans, led a nomadic life in the plains. Many Hindus and some Sikhs of Jat origin migrated to India after partition.

Languages

Siraiki dialect continuum of Hindko, is main language of people. Pashto is next to Siraiki.

Saints

• Hazrat Mian Sultan Zakarea(RA)
• Hazrat Khaki Shah(RA)
• Khawja Mohammad Akbar Ali Chishti(RA)

Further reading

1. "Gazetteer of the Mianwali district 1915" by Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore, Pakistan
2. "Tareekh-e-Niazi Qabail"
3. "Tareekh-e-Alvi Awan"
4. "Wichara Watan" By Harish Chander Nakra, New Delhi, India
5. Henry George Raverty, Notes on Afghanistan and Baluchistan" (Indus Publications, Karachi)

See also

• List of Cities of Punjab, Pakistan by Area

References

^ A Glossary of the tribes & castes of Punjab by H. A Rose

External links

• http://www.GeoMianwali.com
• http://www.MianwaliOnline.com
• http://www.seraikigroup.nexo.com
•  "Mianwali". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.