Killa Saifullah District

Killa Saifullah District
District
Map of Balochistan with Killa Saifullah District highlighted
Country	Pakistan
Province	Balochistan
Established	14 December 1988
Headquarters	Killa Saifullah
Government
• District Nazim	Mulvi Anwar-ud-Din
• District Naib Nazim	Asmatullah
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)

Killa Saifullah, Killa Saifullah, Qilla Saifullah,or Saifullah Killa (Pashto: قلعہ سیف اللہ‎) (Fort of Saifullah Khan) is a district in northwestern Balochistan province, Pakistan. Saifullah Khan was a brave warrior of Khoidadzai, in the Meerdadzai/Mirdadzai, a sub tribe of Kakar Sunzerkhel. A part of Zhob was named after him because of his bravery.

Killa Saifullah is one of the central cities of Balochistan. It has great value because of its agricultural products.

Killa Saifullah became a district on 14 December 1988. Qilla Saifullah used to be part of Fort Sandaman (Appozai District) and known as Zhob sub-division. In 2006 Kashatoo sub-tehsil of Zhob District was transferred to Qilla Saifullah district with a new name, Badinai. After the inclusion of Badinai sub-tehsil, (whose area is not known) in Qilla Saifullah District, the district was re-organised as far as administrative division is concerned.

At present the district is divided into two sub-divisions: Qilla Saifullah and Muslim Bagh. Kila Saifullah sub-division comprises one tehsil (Killa Saifullah) and one sub-tehsil (Badinai). Killa Saifullah tehsil is further sub-divided into 2 Qanungo circles and then into 5 patwar circles. The entire Badinai sub-tehsil is a Qanungo circle as well as patwar circle. Muslim Bagh sub-division comprises Muslim Bagh tehsil and Loiband sub-tehsil. The entire Muslim Bagh tehsil is one Qanungo circle, further sub-divided into 4 patwar circles. The Loiband sub-tehsil consists of one qanungo circle and is sub-divided into 2 patwar circles Over 99% of the people of the area are Muslims. The population of Kaala Saifullah district is estimated to be over 23,3047 in 2005. Most of the people belong to the Ali clan, which is Sanzarkhail ((Pashtuns )).Majorly,Jalalzai,Meerzai and Musazai clans inhibit Qilla Saifullah, along with some others.The people are brave, hospitable and talented

Administration

The district is administratively subdivided into the following tehsils:

• Killa Saifullah
• Muslim Bagh

Location

Killa Saifullah is about 135 km south to quetta. Kila Saifullah is an important district of Pushtun Districts of Balochistan. Nebiouring Districts Are Zhob, Loralai, Pishin. Its boder are linked With the nebiouring Country Afghanistan. Killa Saifullah, Killa Saifullah or Saifullah Killa (fort of Saifullah Khan) is a district in the north west of Balochistan province of Pakistan, 135 km from Quetta, the Provincial Capital. Killa Saifullah was diistrict notified on 14 December 1988.

Historical background

This District is named after Saifullah Khan, who was from the Mirdadzai (Khodadzai) tribe of Kakar Sunzerkhail. He was the great grandson of Zarh Nikka (Faiz ullah Akhunzada), a renowned religious scholar of the region. The British sent its Zhob Expedition in 1884 in order to occupy the Zhob region through Baratkhail. In the meanwhile the castles of Saifullah Khan Khoidadzai and Shah Jehan Jogezai (The Badshah of Zhob) were demolished. On 7 October 1884, an assault on the Qalla (Castle) of Shah Jehan near Akhterzai resulted the killings of many tribal people including Malik Hamza Daulatzai and Mohammad Ghous who fought bravely. All 500 tribal Sardars admitted their submission before the British forces and also signed an agreement that they will not interfere in the affairs of British Government in Zhob region except Saifullah Khan Khoidadzai and Shah Jehan Jogezai, who had a narrow escape from the battle scene and established themselves at Kalat; where they used to operate their insurgency campaign against the British and never subdued before the British Occupying Forces.

Early in the 13th century the country came within the sphere of the raids organised by Genghis Khan, the Mongol. In 1398 AD, an expedition against the Afghans of the area was led by Pir Muhammad, grandson of Amir Timur. Although no authentic information exist about any foreign occupation, many forts, mounds and karezes are attributed to the Mughals. Both Nadir Shah (1736-47 AD) and Ahmed Shah (1747-73 AD) extended their power through Balochistan and thenceforth Zhob remained under the more or less nominal suzerainty of the Durranis and Barakzais until it came under British protection. In the middle of the 18th century Ahmed Shah granted a sanad (certificate) to Bekar Nika, fourth in descent from Jogi and the head of the Jogezai family, conferring upon him the title and position of "Badshah or Ruler of Zhob". Shah Jehan Jogezai was conferred as Badshah of Zhob. The Descendants of Shah Jehan Jogezai used to live in Loralai District of Balochistan. Administrative Units:

Main tribes of Killa Saifullah

Killa Saifullah District has been divided into two administrative units i.e., Tehsils.

• Killa Saifullah

Killa Saifullah Tehsil comprises 09 union councils

• Badini
• Sadar Batozai
• Sadar Pasanzai
• Town
• Musafirpur
• Sharan Jogezai
• Tubli
• Akhterzai
• Batozai

Muslim Tehsil comprises 07 union councils

• Kan Mehterzai
• Murgha Faqirzai
• Sadar
• Town
• Loiband
• Nasai janbagzai
• kanchoghi

The vast majority of the population of Qilla Saifullah is Pashtun . Killa Saifullah, still a tribal agency in administrative terms, has been a part of Zhob and all the historical descriptions.

External links

• Killa Saifullah District at www.balochistan.gov.pk
• Killa Saifullah District at www.balochistanpolice.gov.pk