Alizai (Pashtun tribe)
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The Alizai are a Pashtun Tribe of Afghanistan and Balochistan (Pakistan).
[edit] History and geography
The Alizai tribe mostly reside in Afghanistan and Balochistan, as well as various areas of Tarbela Dam and Attock. The Alizai are the largest tribal group in Afghanistan. The Alizai tribe is considered to be a warrior tribe since their forefather Ahmed Shah Abdali, was a militarily successful leader. The present Sardar of the whole Alizai tribe is Sardar Mehrab Mohim Khan Alizai, who resides in Mastung, Balochistan. The Alizai are also the biggest tribe in Pishin District.
The Alizai are historically related to Helmand and Kandahar provinces in Afghanistan, and before that, Iran. Under Ahmed Shah Abdali the Alizai conquered Kandahar in 1738. After gaining control in Kandahar, Abdali led his men further into Mughal India. After capturing Attock from the Mughal empire in 1752, Abdali gifted the Alizai a substantial amount of land stretching from the "Kharri Gandger" area; around and including Attock. From there, the Alizai are thought to have migrated to the Chhachh area of Attock, which borders the Hazara district. At the start of the 20th century, some politically powerful Alizai started to speak the local language of Hindko to gain political advantage in Attock and Hazara. This is the reason why today, many Alizai speak Pushto, Persian and Hindko.
Other Alizai populated cities of Pakistan include Quetta, Pishin, Mastung, Kalat, Multan, Chhachh, Tarbela Dam, Attock, loralai and D.I.Khan.
The bulk of the Alizai tribe resides in Mastung. They speak Persian. The Great Saint [Sheikh Taqi Alizai is belonged to Alizai tribe,His tomb is in Mastung.The leader of each sub-section of Alizai tribe is called Malik and Raees.The present Malik is Malik Mohammad Saleem Alizai Rajuzai, son of Malik Sher Mohammad Alizai Rajuzaui. The present Raees is Raees Noor Ullah Alizai Shakarzai son of Raees Moula Baksh Alizai Shakarzai. The Malik of Yaqobzai is Malik Mohammad Yousaf, son of the late Malik Mirza Khan.
The literacy rate of the Durrani Alizai is the highest of all of the Pashtun tribes in Afghanistan and hovers around 25%. The Durrani are considered the most liberal of the Pashtun tribes. The Durrani continue to live in close proximity to other people of Afghanistan and culturally overlap in many ways with the Tajiks with whom they often share more cultural and socio-economic traits in comparison to the more tribal Pashtuns such as the Ghilzai, who are the other major Pashtun tribe in Afghanistan. The Durrani are part of Sarbans, a Pashtun tribal group.
The Alizai are a sub-tribe of the Turi, who reside in Parachinar, Kurram Agency of Pakistan, an area known as the Parrot's beak. The Turi are Shia muslims, which distinguishes them from other Pashtuns. Alizai also reside in Kirri Atta Muhammad Khan Shikarpur district of Sindh and in Hazara, District Haripur, in Taloker village, and are Sunni by faith.
Alizai tribespeople under Mullah Abdul Salaam around the town of Musa Qala in Helmand province fought alongside the Taliban in 2007; Salaam then agreed to change sides.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Coghlan, Tom (29 October 2007). "Daily Telegraph: World News". Key tribal leader on verge of deserting Taliban. telegraph.co.uk. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1567858/Key-tribal-leader-on-verge-of-deserting-Taliban.html. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
