Mazari tribe

The Mazari tribe (Balochi: مزاری ) is one of the oldest Baloch tribes in Pakistan. Mazari means "lion" in Balochi. Rojhan-Mazari, a town in the Rajanpur District of the Punjab near the inter-provincial borders of Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab, is the stronghold of the Mazari tribe.

Mazari

Total population
about 300,000
Regions with significant populations
Iran  Pakistan
Languages
Balochi, Farsi, Persian
Religion
Islam, Sunni
Related ethnic groups
Baloch tribes

History

The Mazari tribe is one of the oldest tribes of the Baloch. They are famous for their bravery. Old Balochi folklore shows this tribe at various places in history. According to historians like Firdousi and Mr. Longworth Dames, the Mazari's migrated from Iran along with 44 other tribes. They settled in the Bhambore hills before heading east towards the plains of the Sulaiman range at the invitation of Nahar's. The Mazari's managed to wrest control from the Nahar's and hence became the dominant tribe in the area. The Mazari Chief holds the title of Mir and also goes by the styles Tumandar and Sardar. The current chief Is Mir Balakh Sher Khan Mazari who is a former Prime Minister of Pakistan. Sardar Sherbaz Khan Mazari is a prominent politician and the former leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.Sardar Rahimyar Khan was given the title of Khan Bahadur in the tribe. The Mazari's are one of the biggest landlords of Pakistan rough estimations state that they hold 1500000 acres of land.

The Mazari tribe commands a great deal of respect amongst the Baloch community of Pakistan as well as other ethnic groups of the region such as Sindhis and Pushtuns. There is a great deal of dignity and respect for women in this tribe.

The area the Mazari's conquered is still known as Tuman Mazari, it encompassed an area that included most of the district of Kashmore in Sindh and all of Tehsil Rojhan in Punjab. The arrival of the British saw the golden era for the Mazari tribe, the Chief ruled an area from the town of Bhong all the way to the Sulaiman mountain range and from Kashmore to Giamul. This is estimated to be an area of at least 2000 km sq. The Mazari's continuously defeated Nahar's Machi's, Chandia's and the Bugti's and fought many battles the Sikh's of Punjab who were the dominant power before the arrival of the British.

Wars With the Sikh Empire

In 1836, Mithankot, by then a strong Sikh garrison fortress, was attacked by the Mazari tribal forces under the command of Sardar Karam Khan, the younger brother of the Mazari Chief Sardar Mir Bahram Khan. The attack came as retaliation to Raja Kharak Singh’s constant threats to the Mazari StrogHold of Rojhan Mazari. Many lives were lost and the garrison along with the city was completely burnt down. All the prisoners taken by the Mazari tribesman were later skinned alive and burnt near the city. A few days later the Sikhs under the command of Raja Kharak Singh retaliated and attacked the Mazari Stronghold of Rojhan and managed to burn it down but the Sikh army was quickly engaged by the forces of Sardar Mir Bahram Khan and driven back towards Mithankot. Despite, suffering a major loss in terms of property, only a handful of Mazaris lost their lives as the news of the attack had reached the court of the Mazari Sardar a few days earlier thereby eliminating the element of surprise. These events led to regular skirmishes between the Mazari and the Sikh forces resulting in loss of life on both sides. Then finally in early 1838, a deal was brokered between Sardar Mir Bahram Khan and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh which led to an armistice that was signed by the Chief’s younger brother Sardar Karam Khan and Diwan Sawan Mal, the Maharaja’s Governor of Multan. Later that year Sardar Mir Bahram Khan along with twelve thousand Mazari Tribesman, court officials and notables visited Lahore on the invitation of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. The Mazari's were well received by the Maharaja at the Lahore Fort and given a royal welcome. The Maharaja had the Mughal era Naulakha Pavilion(saman Burj) inside the Lahore Fort specially renovated for the month long stay of Sardar Mir Bahram Khan Mazari. This meeting between the two leaders officially brought an end to the long war between the Sikh Maharaja and the Mazari Sardar that started with the attack at Mitankot.

Main towns and villages

Other major cities of Tuman Mazari in Rojhan Tehsil include Miranpur, UmerKot, Shahwali, Karimabad, Badli Mazari, Kin, Kot Kehwali, Kashmor, Guddu, Sonmiani, Razi Kucha, Dera Dildar, Nabi Shah and Bungla Iccha.

Main clans

The Mazari tribe consists of 4 large sub-clans and 60 small sub-tribes.

See also

• Rojhan Mazari
• Miran Pur
• Sherbaz Khan Mazari
• Baloch people
• Shireen Mazari
• Sardar Sher Ali Khan Mazari
• Balakh Sher Mazari

References

• Baloch by M. G. Pekulin
• The Punjab Chiefs by Sir Lepal Henry Griffin
• Popular Poetry of Balochis by Mr Long Worth Dames
• "Shahnama" Firdousi
• Tareekh Balochistan: Rai Bahadur Lala Hathu Ram
• Tehreek Mujhadin: Allama Ghulam Rasool Mahar
• A Journey to Disillusionment by Sardar Sher Baz Khan Mazari