Loni (Pashtun tribe)
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Loni is a Pashtun tribe in Pakistan including in the town of Luni in Tehsil Duki, District Loralai of Balochistan
KNOWN AS THE SAMAOLANG OWNERS
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[edit] Geography
Loni is located at 28°45′N 77°17′E / 28.75°N 77.28°E. It has an average elevation of 203 metres (666 feet).
[edit] Population
As of 1998[update] Loni had a population of 90,337. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Luni has an average literacy rate of 23%, lower than the national average of 35%.[2]
[edit] History
Loni is a warrior branch of Durrani Pashtoons and are related to Qarabagh of Afghanistan. They came to the sub-continent in the era of the Afghan emperor Ahmad Shah Durrani. They were then called as "OX" due to their warrior nature.
A huge population of Luni tribe still exists in the Uttar Pradesh District of India. They moved through Kashmir, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, and Musa Khel to Khan Muhammad Kot and from there they attacked Alambar, Lakhi, Samaolang (Chamalung) and Thal Chutiali and got hold of the vast area, which then got a single name “LONI”. The boundaries of Loni are extended to Kohlu, Musa Khel, Barkhan, Loralai and Dukki.
They have fought several decisive wars against neighboring castes like MARRI, KAKAR and other tribes of the area!
[edit] Division
The Loni caste is divided into Four main branches namely Rakanwal, Drugzai,Palaw which are then further sub-divided into 28 sub-branches.
Rakanwal:
- Shamaizai
- Marufzai
- Waliani
- Daryazai
- Malizai
- Sadazai
- Ladugan
- Zakarzai
Drugzai:
- Marjanzai
- Alikzai
- Ghorani
- Essazai
- Sumand
- Ghalbuzai
- Mainzai
- Katakhel
- Murzai
PALAW:
- Salezai
- Latthan
- Shaidiani
- Sadozai
- Maronzai
- Miranzai
- Babugaan
[edit] Shamezai
Shamezai is the Elite branch of Luni Caste having strong hold over the other sub-castes.Its noteworthy that sardar Nawab khan was one of the six tribal chiefs(sardars)upon whom the title (TUMANDAR)was conferred by the" Amir of Kabul" and the other five tumandars are as follows: chief of marri tribe,chief of bugti tribe,chief of khetran tribe,chief of jogezai(sanzarkhel)and chief of leghari tribe. There is a sardar in Shamezai tribe who controls the whole tribe! sardar is only from the shamezai branch {the family of shamai} shamazai is the strongest branch of luni tribe.
Some great personalities of the tribe are:
- Sardar Samandar khan Loni
- Sardar Nawab Khan Loni
- Sardar Gahwar Khan loni
- Sardar Shahnawaz khan Loni
- Sardar Muhammad Nawaz Khan Loni
- Sardar Mohammad Hashim Khan Loni
- Sardar Mohammad Tahir Khan Loni(the most charismatic figure in the history of Loni tribe)
- Sardar Hafeez Khan Loni (Conqueror of Samaolang)
- Sardar Masood Ali Khan Loni(the prsent MPA & Minister NFE)
[edit] Relation to other Castes
The close relatives of Loni tribe amongst other Pushtoon tribes are Dotani, gulfarz,jaffar, shirani.
[edit] References
Zubair Ahmad Khan Loni
