Kahut

Kahut is a branch of the Quresh tribe of Saudi Arabia which came to India with the Muslim invaders. Kahut Quresh are mostly located in Chakwal District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is believed that when the Quresh landed in this area they had to fight a war with the locals to make place for them. This war took place at the location of Janga, derived from Jan Gah meanig place of War.

Kahut or Kahoot are also called Koot in some districts e.g. in Sargodha and Mandi Bahauddin districts. In fact when some Kahoot community/tribe moved to Sargodha district and what is now Mandi Bahauddin district, the local people with the passage of time simplified its pronunciation to Koot/Kut in line with their habits of making communication simple and easy. This has happened over the centuries. There is a considerably sizable town by the name of Pindi Kootan near Bhera, in district Sargodha. In addition to that Koot/Kahut tribe has also spread to other parts of Sargodha district and further. In Mandi Bahauddin, Koots/Kahuts are in Union Councils of Ahla, Haryah, Bhikhi and others in good numbers. Of course, they have spread from Chakwal and are land owners and agriculturists. They might not be as numerous in Sargodha and Mandi Bahauddin but they are not less important. Many of them are important in district politics and beyond. Chouhdary Ghulam Ali Kahut of Ahla is very social and important personality of the area and has been member district council Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin and many times chairman of Union Council and Markiz Councils. As like most other tribes of the area, they consider themselves and are also considered by all other people as Jats and have intermarried with all the tribes of the area. Interestingly the tribe of Mair, the Kahut's neighbours and sister tribe of Chakwal are also available with Kahuts of Mandi Bahauddin.

Kahut Qursh are one of the majority caste of Chakwal. Kahuts are mostly located in Chakwal District but they also settled in other places of the Punjab like Lala Musa.

Education Movement

In the 1930s, the elders of he Kahoot, a branch of the Quresh tribe, decided to educate themselves and then took responsibility for educating the Kahoots who were alsost all uneducated . The Hindus were dominating class in trade, education etc. The policy of Hindus was to keep Muslims uneducated and ignorant so that the Hindus could dominate muslims for ever. The Kahoot eldersy took the task to pursue Kahoots to become teachers so that they could persuade masses to get and spread education among Kahoots. Since at that time Hindus were monoplying in field of education also,many hardships had to be faced by the elders. Prominent leaders of this movement were Chaudhry Ghulam Haider of Kariyala, who was (then) member District Council Jhelum Chaudhry Mohammed Zaman Khan prominent respected zamindar of Chakora,who was already in education field as School Headmaster and , Mohammad Shah Sahib of Dullah and some other friends and supporters from the clan. Chaudhry Riaz Hussain of Thoha Bahader contributed in the cause of educating and welfare of Kahoots after some time and proved a staunch supporter. Village of SADWAL, Near Chakwal is a which is also well known for the kahuts, Ch Dost Mohammad Kahut from Sadwal(Dhoke Daraz) was a prominent Zamindar of the village.
Ghazi Mureed Husain of Bhala was a Kahoot Quresh who assassinated a Hindu officer for blesphemy and insult of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him). His Mazar is located in the vicinity of Bhalla and Kahoot Qureshis are proud of him.Kahoot is warrior tribe , they fought many wars against sikhs and British. The area near chakwal in which villeges of satwal,sadwal,balla and karyala lies is commonly known as KAHUTNI. Kahoot is one of the three main dominant tribes of the region and original landonwer of the DHANI plains. Some cousins of Kahoots abode in Dullha, west of Chakwal which are respected across Chakwal .A majority of Kahut also live in Thoha Bahadur village near Chakwal on talagang road and one of the most famous Personality is in district Chakwal is Muhammad Gulistan Kahoot. He is also known as the Saltanat-e-Kahoot because of his dominance over 70% of the land in District Chakwal.

Prominent Kahuts

* Chaudhry Ghulam Haider of Karyala, former member District Council Jhelum.Fact|date=December 2007

* Chaudhry Mohammed Zaman Khan of Chakora, prominent in educating Kahuts.Fact|date=December 2007

* Mohammed Shah @Khanji of Dullah, prominent in unity, welfare and education of Kahuts.Fact|date=December 2007

* Ghazi Mureed Hussain Shaheed.Fact|date=December 2007

* Capt. Chaudhry Muhammad Khan (the then)House A.D.C to Gen. Yahya Khan and ex-counceller of UC Sadwal.

* Muhammad Iqbal Kahut of village Mureed; Olympian Javelin throw Athlete.

* Chaudhry Riaz Hussain Kahut of Thoha Bahadur, President of the Kahut Youth in District Chakwal.Fact|date=December 2007

* Ch Dost Mohammad Kahut of Sadwal(Dhoke Daraz) a prominent zamindarFact|date=December 2007

* Maj.Gen Muzzaffar KahutFact|date=December 2007

* Muhammad Afzal KahutFact|date=December 2007

* Brig. Iftikhar Haider Khan son of Capt.Ch. Muhammad Khan,grandson of Ch. Muhammad Zaman KhanFact|date=December 2007

* DIG Police Muhammad Munir KahutFact|date=December 2007

* Dr Mohammad Iqbl Kahut, World Health Organization National Programme Officer (MPS) Pakistan Fact|date=December 2007, and Ex EDO Health And EX MS DHQ HospitalChakwa.Fact|date=December 2007 Resident odf Sadwal and Grand son of Ch Dost Mohammad KahutFact|date=December 2007

* Session Judge Sahki Muhammad KahutFact|date=December 2007

* M. ISHFAQ KAHOUT Adovicate Gen. sec. OF CHAKWAL Law bar

* Azad KAHOUT SSP in Lahore Police