Khari Sharif

Khari Sharif is an agricultural area in Mirpur District, Azad Jammu & Kashmir.Broadly speeking, Alaqa-e-Khari (translation in english:Area of Khari) refers to the fertile plains of Khari which exist between the hills of mirpur and the river Jhelum.Khari has some 80 small and large villages and one of the village itself is known as Khari Sharif.It is located 8km from Mirpur city and is known for housing the Shrines of Sufi Saints known as Peer-e-Shah Ghazi (Qalandar Damriyan Wali Sarkar) and Mian Mohammad Baksh. The place acts as a great seat of learning for students of Islam. Darveishs (disciples) of the Saint can be seen today wandering not just in Pakistani Kashmir but throughout Pakistan.

Demography

According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, the population was 9,632. The Sohlan Rajputs are a major tribe.

History

Historically, Khari was ruled by Sohlan Rajput families. The two famous political name of prepartition history were Jagirdar Raja Alla Dad Khan of Lehri and Zaildar Raja Sajjawal Khan of Mehmunpur. These two people were renowned for their strong family backgrounds and for their strong connections with Maharaja.

Also at Khari Sharif is the Shrine of the Mian Mohammad Bakhsh who wrote the famous tale Saiful Maluk. This tells of a Prince who fell in love with a fairy called Badi-U-Jamal who he saw in a dream. The story chronicles his travels in search of the fairy and the spiritual lessons he learns on the way. Saiful Maluk is read throughout Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan, and even has its own council. This council is headed by the well known Choudhry Karamat Khari, from the village of Pindi Subherwal, about a kilometer from the famous shrines.

Politics

Khari has the distinction of being the home of Mirpur's first prime minister Barrister Sultan Mehmud Choudhary. Other prominent politicians of Khari are ex-MLA Ch.Khadam Hussain(Late) of Chechian ,ex-MLA and Deputy speaker of AJK assembly Choudhary Mohammad Azam of Potha Bensi and the newly elected MLA and minister AJK Govt.Choudhry Rukhsar of Chabrian Gujjran.

Education

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Khari has a number of primary,secondary and intermediate level institutions for both boys and girls.There is a college of education for the training of teachers.Famous educationist of Azad kashmir Prof Dr Mohammad Sharif Chattar belonged to one of its villages Pindi Subherwal.

Armed Forces

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Lt.General Raja Saroop Khan of Chechian the ex Governor of Punjab and General Sheikh Frooq Subherwal of Jatlan also belong to Khari.

Famous People

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• Imran Khan (phd in biological chemistry, military trained, born in Khari Sharif 1980)
• Abeel Ali (Student chemical engineer)
• Waseem Akram (Councillor UK)
• Haji Zayed Talib (Retired businessman)
• Haji Hakim Ali (Successful businessman UK)
• Ishan Bhatt (Owner of Ishan Cars Ltd)
• Malik Shabaan Ali Riaz Hussain (Policeman)
• Manpreet Singh (shop owner)
• Chaudary Munawar Hussain (chairman of M.K Chemical Industries,plants in mirpur & Rawalpindi)

Places to Visit

Another famous shrine is the one in the village of Samwal Sharif. Many people visit this shrine in the hope of finding spiritual guidance in troubled times.