The Dhund Abbasi are a tribe of northern Pakistan in the Abbottabad District and Murree Tehsil, although they are scattered in other parts of the Indian Subcontinent. The tribe claims descent from Dhond Khan (a nickname of Shah Wali Khan) and `Abbas ibn `Abd al-Muttalib and hence are known as Dhond Abbasi. The tribe speak the Dhundi-Kairali dialect. The tribe is spread throughout Circle Bakote, Poonch District, Bagh, Kashmir) and the Murree Hills area.

They came to ancient Pakistan as traders and merchants from Egypt, trading in commodities like fabrics, perfumes and diamonds. They established a colony near Delhi in 1232. Sardar Tolak Khan, who came to Kashmir during the reign of King Zain-ul-Abidin, settled in the Poonch area (now the Bagh District of Azad Kashmir).

Although the tribe traces its roots back directly to Abbas himself, it is more likely that the Dhond Abbasi people are descended from the Abbasid dynasty. The descendants of Abbas displaced the Umayyad rulers and were known as the Abbasids, this dynasty and governed for 500 years from Baghdad, Iraq. The rule of the Abbasids extended eastwards across Afghanistan into the South Asian subcontinent,covering the eastern part of modern-day Pakistan.

Origin

The Dhond Abbasi claim descent from the Abbasids. An Abbasid general, Zurrab Khan, was given the task to subjugate the king of Kashmir who refused to pay tribute to Afghanistan. He invaded Kashmir and overthrew the king and married the daughter of the new king. He remained as an ambassador to the state and lived at Darab Kot at Kahuta. His son, Akbar Ghae Khan, is the forefather of all Abbasi tribes, including the Dhond in Murree and Kashmir. Most of the tribe live in the North-West Frontier Province, Murree, Islamabad.

Envoys and traders of the Abbasids came to Taxila, India, where they constructed a mosque and started preaching Islam by the order of Caliph Harun al-Rashid around 844 CE. An Abbasi scholar, Abu Fadhal, taught a Kashmiri King Onti Vermon in 882, and he translated the Quran into Hindi. This was the first translation of the Quran into an Indian language. In 1025 CE, Raja Mall of Jhelum, embraced Islam by Mahmud Ghazni and constructed a fort at Malot, Malpur near Islamabad in present day Pakistan administered Kashmir. He died in Jhelum.

In 1021, the mountains were governed by Gakhars who the Dhond Abbasis in the Delhi Area. The Dhond Abbasis had settled in the area since an ancestor Poro Khan arrived in 880 CE. Noh Khan was his son born in 900 CE. In 968, Karlal chief, Galler Khan, came to Circle Bakote from south Afghanistan. Dhond Chief Sardar Taeq or Taif Khan met with Sabuktagin, the father of Mehmood Ghaznawi at Kabul in 975 CE and joined his army. This alliance continued.

History

In the book A Glossary of The Tribes & Castes of The Punjab & North-West Frontier Province, published in 1911 the Dhund and other tribes were described as follows:

the Dhúnd with the Satti and Ketwal occupy nearly the whole of Murree and Hazára Hills on the right bank of the Jhelum in the Házara and Ráwalpindi districts. Of the three the Dhúnd are the most northern, being found in the Abbottábád tahsil of Házara and in the northern tracts of Ráwalpindi, while below them come the Satti. Andwál appear to be one of the Dhund clans. They claim to be descendants of Abbás, the paternal uncle of the prophet; but another tradition that their ancestor Takth Khán came with Taimúr to Delhi where he settled; and that his descendent Zoráb Khán went to Kahúta in the time of Sháh Jahán and begat the ancestors of the Jadwál, Dhánd, Sarrára and Tanáoli tribes. His son Khalára or Kalu Rai was sent to Kashmír and married a Kashmíri woman from whom the Dhúnd are sprung and also a Katwál woman. From another illegitimate son the Satti, who are the bitter enemies of the Dhúnd, are said to have sprung; but this the Satti deny and claim descent from no less a person than Nausherwán. These traditions are of course absurd. Kalu Rai is a Hindu name and one tradition makes him brought up by a Brahmin. Colonel Wace wrote of the Dhúnd and Karrál:" Thirty years ago their acquaintance with the Muhammadan faith was still slight, and now though they know more of it and are more careful to observe it, relics of their Hindu faith are still observable in their habits". This much appears certain that that the Dhúnd, Satti, Bib, Chibh and many others are all of Hindu origin, all originally occupants of the hills on this part of the Jhelum, and all are most probably connected. Among the Punwár clans mentioned by Tod and supposed to be extinct by him are the Dhoonda, Soruteah, Bheeba, Dhúnd, Jeebra, and Dhoonta; and it is not impossible that these tribes may be of Punwár clans. The history of these clans is given at page 592 ff of Sir Lepel Griffin's , Punjáb Chiefs. They were almost exterminated by the Sikhs in 1837

In Hazára the local tradition makes two of the two main Dhúnd clans, Chandiál and Ratniál, descendants of of two Rájput chiefs who were descended from Gahi, ruler of a tract around Delhi. To this day they refuse to eat with other Muhammadans or even to allow them to touch their cooking vessels. At weddings they retain the Hindu customs, whereby the barat or procession spends 2 or 3 days at the house of the bride's father, and various other Hindu social observances. They rarely marry outside the tribe, but polygamy is fairly common among them.

Dhond Abbasis of Circle Bakote

Rattan Khan (Abdurehman) took charge in about 1400. He reformed agriculture and allowed a large part of Circle Bakote to be cultivated. Rattan Khan had four sons. Rattan Khan's Kashmiri wife was called Zulaikha and she had given birth to Bodrha Khan, forefather of Budreal of Malkot (b. 1425), Hejhe Khan, forefather of Hejheal of Dewal, Murree (1427) and Baikh Khan, forefather of Bekhal (1429). Zulaikha died from smallpox in 1430. Rattan Khan married another lady, Paris Jan, in the same year and she gave birth to Lahr Khan in 1433.

Lahr Khan

Lahr Khan was the youngest brother of Traeka and demanded his assets and other family inheritance in 1478 -when Rattan Khan passed away. His three elder brothers refused and he pled his case in Pherwala Gakhar Court. Gakhar Chief Malik Boga awarded the land from end of Dewal to Boi to Lahr Khan and all would agree to the boundary. This united Lahr's half brothers against him, as a result he laid foundation of new region of Hazara now called Circle Bakote. He had four sons, Hammu Khan (b. 1457), Humaira Khan (b. 1455), Shaikho Khan (b. 1450) and Pailo Khan (b. 1460). History hold record of only Shekho Khan's descendants, because he possessed courage and leadership against enemies from south.

Shaikho Khan

Shaikho Khan (real name Shaikh Khan) was renowned for his rule of Circle Bakote. His wife, Bafat Jan, belonged to the Chameati Tribe, and she is famed for diplomacy with other tribes.

Historians praised her as the real ruler of Circle Bakote. She also eased tension with the south. Shaikho Khan was also a great reformer who developed industry, religion and education in Circle Bakote. He was the most favoured feudal lord of the Ghakhers Rulers as he provided well equipped men to them in their revolt against Emperor Sher Shah Suri. He paid the taxes and revenue to Ghakhers also. He was father of four sons named Changas (Changaize) Khan (b. 1488), Moyoo (Moj) Khan (b. 1492), Nikoder Khan (b. 1495) and Khan Dada (b. 1497). These four dominated in Birote Kalan, Birote Khurd and Bakote.

Dhond Abbasi of Birote

Birote is the home of the four Khan brothers, who ruled between 1500 to 1590. The Dhond Abbasi of Birote Kalan trace their descent from Adhari Khan. Adhari Khan had four sons, the most important two are Tahir Khan (b. 1730) and Bahgo Khan (b. 1735) from which all Dhond Abbasi families in Birote Kalan trace their descent.

Tahir Khan

Tahir Khan was a person of high calibre with two sons, Shah Mohammed and Lalli Khan. Shah Mohammed had a very large family with seven sons, Fateh Khan, forefather of Phatteal (b. 1782), Sunni Khan, forefather of Sunnial (b. 1785), Newais Khan, forefather of Niwaesal (b. 1790), Mir Khan, forefather of Miral (b. 1793), Saffer Khan, forefather of Saffreal (b. 1796), and Bakhsh Khan (b.1799) and six daughters. His sons' descendants having a separate identity as a sub-tribe. Tahir Khan younger brother, Lalli Khan, had only three sons, Jamal Khan (1780), Qassal Khan (B. 1784), and Bolaki Khan (b. 1788). Bolaki Khan was a rising leader of family and milestone in Birote rulers. He imposed a travelling tax on everybody among his own family, his palace today is now a hotel and possessed by Sain Mohammed Abbas Khan.

He was killed by his own family members due to this tax dispute . Khushi Mohammed (Abdul Gafoor) is the main personality of Bolaki Khan family now. Jamal Khan had two sons, Marwat Khan, forefather of Murtal (b.1805) and Haji Khan, forefather of Hajiaal (b. 1808). General Councilor of UC, Birote Zoaq Akhter Abbasi, belonged to Murtal and Ex-Chairman UC Birote Haji Mohammed Azam Khan belonged to Hajiaal family. Kassal Khan had two sons, Fakar Khan, forefather of Fikeeral of Tangan and Bamboo Khan, forefather of Bambeal of Hotyrerhi (Birote Khurd). Mohammed Rezaq Khan belonged to the Fakeeral family of Tangan, who started first transport bus Murree Hills Transport on Upper Dawal Kohala Road in 1964.

Bahgo Khan

Bahgo Khan was the younger brother of Tahir Khan. He was a religious person and not interested in politics. He had four sons, Masti Khan, forefather of Masteal (b. 1760), Mahr Khan, forefather of Mehral (b. 1772), Kamal Khan, forefather of Kamlal (b. 1775) and Dast Khan, forefather of Dasteal (b. 1779). Kamil Khan had only one son, Naserdeen Khan, forefather of the Naserdeenaal family. Nazim of Birote Afaq Abbasi belonged to the Kamalal family.

British rule

Prior to and during the time of British rule those who lived in the Hill areas had herded goats and sheep (Bakarwal) and had horses and donkeys and Khachers for luggage and transportation.

In 1857, the Dhonds, along with other mountain tribes, attempted to rise up against the British in Murree but failed.

The educated population of this tribe settled in province capitals and Islamabad. Their ancestral profession has changed, some are now civil servants, others are in politics or the hotel industry.

Abbasi in Kehal A vast majority of Dhond Abbasi live in Kehal. They immigrated from Kashmir, the center of Abbasids. They are prominent and influential during elections of NA-17 and PF-44 in the Abbottabad district. They are famous for their honesty, and quality education.

Geography

The Dhond Abbasi tribe inhabit the northern areas around the Federal Capital of Pakistan, Islamabad. The famous village of Phulgran is populated by Dhondes who belong to the Chamla Khan branch of the tribe. Most of he inhabitants of Bhara Kahu are from this tribe who moved down from the adjacent hills for economic and business opportunities. Murree is mainly inhabited by Dhondes, the tribe extends to NWFP in areas such as Lora, Nagri Tutial. The tribe extends to Bagh and Muzaffarabad Districts of AJK where a branch of Chandal Dhondes isettled, they belong to Chand Khan (Malik Chand Khan Abbasi) son of Tulak Khan. Rattan Khan settled at Basian junction of Punjab and NWFP. The descendants of Rattan Khan are now a majority in Murree and NWFP. The Dhond Abbasi sub-tribe Shirals inhabited are settle in UC Behali.

Major Branches

Sherwal

Origion from Muree and than lora to haripure. Mainly residing in the areas of Gundaf, Kaleinjer and surrounding areas in Disst. Haripure. Thier forefather was Baba Sher. Herpalal, Khairwal and kulwal are also residing in these areas but they are in minority. they are all decendant of Andwal.

Phatteal of Masoot

Tahir Khan was a person of high calibre with two sons, Shah Mohammed and Lalli Khan. Shah Mohammed had a very large family with seven sons including Fateh Khan, forefather of Phatteal

Phatteal family is the royal family of Masoot. Phatteal is the first and largest family in Masoot. Muhammad Sher Khan from Kupper is the famous person in Masoot. His son, Haji Muhammad Inyat Khan, is also a famous person. Haji Muhammad Khan had four sons, Muhammad Zulfiquar Abbasi, Muhammad Nazzar Abbasi, Muhammad Atbar Abbasi, and Muhammad Shahnawaz Abbasi.

Khalwal of Masoot

Khalwal is a major branch of Dhond Abbasi, largely residing in Masoot and other areas.

Dhond Abbasis Of Ausia

Abbasis living in Ausia and surrounding areas are sublings of Budhra Khan, known as Bhdurial Abbasi's.

Dewal Sharif (Tehsil Murree)

Abbasis living in Dewal Sharif and surroundings areas are known as Hijals

• Village Nand Kot and surroundings are known as Baramals

Haje Khan

Haje Khan is one of the most powerful, respected and largest clan of this particular region and one of the most influential sub-clans of this family.

Thadyals

Descendants of Thada Khan (son of Haje Khan) are known as Thadyals. They live mainly in Dewal Sharif, Lower Dewal and Ayubia (Abbottabad District) and are also scattered in different parts of Murree.

Notable Thadyals

• Sardar Mohammad Abbas Khan of Makara was the first SSP of the Pakistan to retire as A.I.G Police. He served in the NWFP before and after the partition of India. He died in 1971.
• Sardar Mohsin Akhtar Abbasi grandson of Sardar M Abbas Khan (President MSF(N) Pakistan) was recently appointed as the Secretary General of World Muslim Organization.
• Cap (R) Zulfiqar Abbasi and Com. (R) Shaukat Abbasi of Khurkote also belonged to the sub-tribe.

Janiyals

Descendants of Jani Khan are known as Janiyals, and live in Dewal Sharif, Rawat(Bhurban) and Murree.

• Sardar Raja Kala Khan of Rawat Bhurban was the first elected member of the Legislative assembly.

Toteyaals

Iswal is a prominent family of the Murree tehsil and Rawat union council.

Totiyaals are descendants of Tota Khan residing in Chamb, Kora Keri and Tanda (Longaal).

Mitwals

Descendants of Mita Khan are known as Mitwals. Most of the clan live in Aliot, Dewal Sharif, and the rest are scattered in different villages.

Slemwals

Descentdants of Saleem Khan are known as Slemwal. Most of the Slemwal live in lower Dewal Sharif

Mirjals

Descendants of Mira Khan are known as Mirjals and live for the most part in Dewal Sharif and scattered in Murree.

Baramals

Descendants of Suraj Khan are known as Baramals, mostly living in Nandkot (Charra Pani) near Murree.

Borayals

The descendants of Bora Khan are known as Borayals. Most live in Dewal Shrif and suburbs.

Notable Borayals

-Air Cmdr(Rt) Waheed Abbasi -Col (R) Naseem Abbasi -Cmdr Zafar Mehmood Abbasi (Pak Navy)

Kamlals

Kamlals also live in Dewal Shrif (Murree) and Birote (Circle Bakote) but they are not Hijals.

Ranwals Of Namb

The biggest subcaste in Ranwals are Thingrals.

Malwals

Desecdents of Malo Khan are known as Malwals. Malwals mainly live in the villages of Seehanna, Angoori, Namb, Dhal on the Grand Trunk Road near Phagwari, Potha Sharif, near village Alyot.

Pride of abbassies

Sardar Mohammad Abbas Khan of Makara (Murree, UC. Pagwari) and Sardar Noor Khan (Murree UC. Rawaat) were well known before and after partition. Sardar Mohammad Abbas Khan was the first SSP officer in Pakistan after partition and retired in 1954. Sardar Noor Khan was a member of Parliament and both were known as men of principle in Pakistan history. (edited by Umar Abbas Khan, great-grandson of Sardar Mohammad Abbas Khan) Bakwal:Most living in Potha Sharif the famous village of Murree.

Kharal Ghaiyalan(Abbasian) Bagh

Around 1640, an uncle and his nephew settled across the Jhelum River from the Kahuta district Punjab to Poonch Kashmir. They settled in Kharal, a village at the north east of Bagh town, and brought their families to live with them. Both uncle and nephew divided the village and built their farms and cultivated wheat. Wheat was not suitable for the climate so they grew maize too. Wheat was abandoned because the maize crop was delayed. Kharal covers an area of 1200 Acres with small streams and mountainous terrain all around. In 2005, many lives were lost to an earthquake. The estimated population in 1999 was seven thousand. Kharal Ghaiyalan (Abbasian) falls on the Ceasefire line or line of control (LOC).

Dhond Abbasis of Circle Bakote

Rattan Khan (Abdurehman) took charge as a feudal chief of Murree Hills, Circle Lora and Circle Bakote in about 1400. His first reform, as the major landowner in the area, was the promotion of agricultural base of the community. As a result a large part of Circle Bakote cultivated and many villages are famous for their agriculture products. Hotrol (Land of paddy fields), Hotrerhi (a small piece of land cultivated by farmer) are memorials of that time. Rattan Khan had four sons, three from a lady of Kashmir and one who had a local mother. Rattan Khan's Kashmiri wife was called Zulaikha and she had given birth to Bodrha Khan, forefather of Budreal of Malkot (b. 1425), Hejhe Khan, forefather of Hejheal of Dewal, Murree (1427) and Baikh Khan, forefather of Bekhal (1429). Zulaikha died by smallpox in 1430. Rattan Khan than married another local lady, Paris Jan, in the same year and she gave birth to Lahr Khan in 1433.

Lahr Khan

Lahr Khan was the youngest brother of Traeka and demanded his portion of the family inheritance in 1478 -when Rattan Khan passed away. His three elder brothers resisted and he contested this issue in Pherwala Gakhar Court. Gakhar Chief Malik Boga decided that the land from the end of Dewal to Boi would be awarded to Lahr Khan and a boundary of mentioned land signed by all of them. This decision caused Lahr's half brothers to unite against him, and he laid foundation of new region of Hazara now called Circle Bakote. He had also four sons: Hammu Khan (b. 1457), Humaira Khan (b. 1455), Shaikho Khan (b. 1450) and Pailo Khan (b. 1460). History records only Shekho Khan descendants, because he possessed courage and leadership against enemies from south.

Shaikho Khan

Shaikho Khan (real name Shaikh Khan) was renowned for his rule of Circle Bakote. His wife Bafat Jan belonged to the Chameati Tribe, and she is famed for diplomacy with other tribes.

Historians like Frishta and Kegohar Nama praised her and says that she was the real ruler of Circle Bakote. She also eased tension with the south. Shaikho Khan was also a great reformer who invited the working class for development of Circle Bakote, water mills, ginning factories, weaving communities, and leading class of Imams, religious scholars, and teachers came there in his time. He was the most favoured feudal lord of the Ghakhers Rulers as he provided well equipped men to them in their revolt against Emperor Sher Shah Suri. He regularly paid the taxes and revenue to Ghakhers also. He was father of four younger and brave sons named Changas (Changaize) Khan (b. 1488), Moyoo (Moj) Khan (b. 1492), Nikoder Khan (b. 1495) and Khan Dada (b. 1497). These four dominated in Birote Kalan, Birote Khurd and Bakote.

Dhond Abbasi of Birote

The four Khan brothers lived in Birote, and ruled between 1500 and 1590. The Dhond Abbasi of Birote Kalan trace their descent from Adhari Khan. Adhari Khan had four sons, the most important of whom are Tahir Khan (b. 1730) and Bahgo Khan (b. 1735) from which all Dhond Abbasi families in Birote Kalan trace their descent. The other two sons are believed to have migrated elsewhere and their name has not been recorded.

Tahir Khan

Tahir Khan was a person of high calibre with two sons, Shah Mohammed and Lalli Khan. Shah Mohammed had a very large family with seven sons including Fateh Khan, forefather of Phatteal (b. 1782), Sunni Khan, forefather of Sunnial (b. 1785), Newais Khan, forefather of Niwaesal (b. 1790), Mir Khan, forefather of Miral (b. 1793), Saffer Khan, forefather of Saffreal (b. 1796), and Bakhsh Khan (b.1799) and six daughters. His sons' descendants having a separate identity as a sub-tribe. Tahir Khan younger brother Lalli Khan having only three sons named Jamal Khan (1780), Qassal Khan (B. 1784), and Bolaki Khan (b. 1788). Bolaki Khan was a rising leader of his family and stood out among Birote rulers. He imposed a travelling tax on everybody among his own family, his palace today is now a hotel owned by by Sain Mohammed Abbas Khan.

He was killed by his own family members due to this tax dispute and deported his family to Kahoo Sharqi. Khushi Mohammed (Abdul Gafoor) is the main personality of Bolaki Khan family now. Jamal Khan had two sons, Marwat Khan, forefather of Murtal (b.1805) and Haji Khan, forefather of Hajiaal (b. 1808). General Councilor of UC Birote Zoaq Akhter Abbasi is descended from Murtal and Ex-Chairman UC Birote Haji Mohammed Azam Khan belonged to Hajiaal family. Kassal Khan had two sons, Fakar Khan, forefather of Fikeeral of Tangan and Bamboo Khan, forefather of Bambeal of Hotyrerhi (Birote Khurd). Mohammed Rezaq Khan belonged to the Fakeeral family of Tangan who started the first bus company, Murree Hills Transport on Upper Dawal Kohala Road in 1964.

Bahgo Khan

Bahgo Khan was the younger brother of Tahir Khan. He was a religious person and not interested in politics. He had four sons named Masti Khan, forefather of Masteal (b. 1760), Mahr Khan, forefather of Mehral (b. 1772), Kamal Khan, forefather of Kamlal (b. 1775) and Dast Khan, forefather of Dasteal (b. 1779). Kamil Khan had only one son Naserdeen Khan, forefather of Naserdeenaal family. Nazim of Birote Afaq Abbasi belonged to the Kamalal family.

Muqarab Abbasi Muqarab Abbasi, of the Birote family, is director of the U.S. agency, NASA.

Miral

Miral is a branch of the Dhond Abbasi tribe of Birote and are the descendants of Mir Khan (d 1781) who is buried in Danna.

Notable Mirals

• Muzamal Hussain Abbasi, Manager National Bank of Pakistan Muzaffarabad
• Ayaz Mehmood Abbasi''' He wrote many newspaper articles on local and national problems. He wrote a thesis on the impact of tourism on the environment in Murree. Ayaz Mehmood Abbasi is the pride of Abbasids. He worked day and night for the rehabilitation of affected people of PF 45 and help them out in housing and livelihood cash grant programme of ERRA. He opened an office in Birote to provide necessary information to the people of U/C Birote, Pluck and Bakot regarding housing grant etc. He approached all the departments, organizations and key figures for the development of PF 45 with out any bias, prejudice or discrimination of caste and creed. He is still busy in highlighting issues effecting the development of area concerned.

References

• The Punjab Chiefs by Lepel H. Griffin ISBN-13: 978-9693516586
• TAREEKH-E-FRISHTA by Firishta
• TAREEKH-E-GAKHRHAN by Raja Haider Zeman
• TAREEKH-E-MURREE by Noor Alahi Abbasi
• DASTAN-E-MURREE by Karam Haidri
• AAINA-E-QURESH by Akram Khan
• PUNJAB CASTES by Denzil Ibbetson 1900
• ZATOON KA ENCYCLOPAEDIA translated by Yasir Jawad (Originally this book name is A GLOSSARY OF CASTES AND TRIBES OF NWFP & PUNJAB by Danzial Abbotson, printed in 1910)
• LINGUISTIC SURVEY OF INDIA (Vol IIV) (Now available under title of LINGUISTIC SURVEY OF PAKISTAN Vol V)
• TAREEKH-E-ALVI AWAN by Mohabbat Hussain Awan, 2002
• TAREEKH-E-HAZARA by Shair Bahadur Khan Panni of Abbottabad, new edition, 2006.