Lilownai

Lilownai is one of the larger villages of district Shangla. It is at a distance of 5 kilometers from the district headquarter Alpuri. Surrounded by high mountains, green meadows, and clear lakes, it is a place of great natural beauty. Lilownai lies in close proximity to Shahpoor and Alpurai. The village was named after one of two Buddhist sisters, the other sister being Sepnarai.

There was significant evidence of a thriving Buddhist society predating the current inhabitants. The locals describe the finding of Buddhist statues and other relics. As the current population are conservative Sunni, much of this Buddhist heritage was lost as it was destroyed. The rationale of the local population seems to have been that preservation may have been seen as endorsing idolatry.

The inhabitants of Lilownai are predominantly Yusufzai. They settled in the area after migrating from Nangahar, Afghanistan. They claim to be the descendants of the Peer (Islamic Saint) of Papin. In local folklore the Peer of Papin was meant to have healing powers. Locals still take their sick and infirm to his shrine, with the hope that he will heal them.

After conquering the valley, the invading Pashtuns set up a fortification on an elevated location overlooking the valley. The mountain overlooking the valley is named Jamra, and the local dominant tribe call themselves the Jamra Mians.

The fort was characterized by a single defensive tower. When the area was incorporated into Swat State, locals speak of 300 rifles being surrendered. This would suggest a sizeable tribal militia. A rare concession offered to the local chieftain was that he was allowed to demolish his own fort.

Recent DNA studies have confirmed them to have some Jewish Mizrahi ancestry, which would give credence to the postulated theory that the Afghans are the lost tribe of Israel.

Notable people from the area are,

Rasul Khan was Vizier to the autocratic, illiterate ruler of Swat. He led a militia from Swat in the first Kashmir War capturing swathes of territory. He was also instrumental in the incorporating Kohistan into Swat state.

He fell out of favour with the ruler of Swat, the result of which would have significant consequences to the future of Swat state. At the time the ruler of Swat state had become paranoid regarding challenges to his rule, and was keen to consolidate his position.

Sarangzeb Khan, was the eldest son of Rasul Khan, and was incensed by the mistreatment of his father. He, along with his younger brother Dr Khurshid Alam established the Swat Liberation Movement (SLM). They were inspired by the Frontier Gandhi (Ghaffar Khan) and were political allies and friends of the poet turned politician Ajmal Khattak .

Their political aspirations and desire for reformation of the Pashtuns threatened autocratic rule in Swat.

Dr Khurshid Alam, was among the first few medical doctor's from Shangla, he was instrumental in developing and planning a media campaign against the ruler of Swat. He wrote and published pamphlets about the dangers of autocratic rule. This is one of the earliest documented examples of an organised media campaign in Swat state. Of note, Dr Khurshid Alam orchestrated this media campaign while a student. He managed to evade authorities by virtue of his political affiliations and by changing his last name.

Dr Khurshid Alam went on to establish the Anaesthetic department, and develop postgraduate medical training in Anaesthetics at Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar Pakistan. He completed his Anaesthetics training in the United Kingdom, and is credited with setting up the postgraduate diploma in Anaesthesia (PGMI) at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.

The accession of Swat state, and it's integration into Pakistan owes much to the endeavours of the inhabitants of this little known village.

In recent history, the UC chairman of Qaumi Islahi Jirga was Hassan Zeb, and was elected in 2006 .

Of note Lilownai includes other tribes containing Sayyid, Shilmani, Mian khel, Dilazak , Dobian,Molian, Nayan, Gujjar, etc.

Among other notable figures from the village worthy of mention there is Taj Mohammad Khan who worked as a bureaucrat as well as Haji Bakhtkht Afsar, a former Executive district officer in education.