THE HISTORY OF KILLA SAIFULLAH

(QILA SAIFULLAH DISTRICT)

BALOCHISTAN

Qilla Saifullah or Killa Saifullah is a fort (qilla) built by Saifullah Khan,

belonging to Mirdadzai Khoidadadza tribe of Kakars. The Qilla Saifullah

District of Pakistan derives its name from this fort.

Saifullah Khan was born in 1827 in killa saifullah (former Upper Zhob)

and was the grandson of religious scholar Faiz ullah Akhunzada (Zarh

Nika). In 7th of October when the British forces attacked his Qilla (now

Rabat Karaiz) and the the Qilla of Shah Jehan Jogezai (The Badshah of

Zhob) near

Akhterzai (also
The Sword of Saifullah
called Daultzai
Khoidadzai
Battle by Sir

Aitecheson), Shah

Jahan, Saifullah

and Hamza

Daultzai fought

bravely in the

Daulatzai hills,

Malik Hamza Daultzai and Ghaus Mohammad were killed and Shah
Jehan and Saifullah Khan had a naarrow escape, went to Kalat

Afghanistan to raise insurgency against the British. All the remaining

tribal heads along with their 500 men admitted their submission to the

British forces and also sighed a treaty with the British that they will not

interfere with their any thing in Zhob (Ref: Zhob Gazeeter Volume 2)

Qilla Saifullah became a district on 14th December 1988. Previously it

was part of Zhob District and known as Upper Zhob sub-division. Killa

Saifullah is about 135km south to quetta. Killa Saifullah is an important

district of Pushtun Districts of Balochistan. Neighbouring Districts are

Zhob,Loralai, Pishin. Its borders are also linked to neighbouring country

Afghanistan called Durind Line.

The prime historical

importance of Zhob is

having been a cradle

of the Afghan race. In

the 7th century, Hiuen

Tsiang, a Chinese

pilgrim has described

the Afghans as living

in Zhob. Early in the A Quranic Manuscript by Faiz ullah , the grandfather

of Saifullah Khan in 1600 century
13th century the

country came within the sphere of the raids organized by Gengis 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 Jogizai family, conferring upon him the title and

position of “Badshah or Ruler of Zhob” to Shah Jehan Jogezai.

There are two Tehsils (Killa Saifullah and Muslim Bagh)

and 15 Union councils

The Union Council are:

1-Town Killa Saifullah (Majority Population: Musazai, Jalalzai, Daulatzai, Afghans

& some Panjabis)

2-Sadar Killa Saifullah (Merzai Tribe Fatozai, Malazai, Pasainza, Paizaii)

3-Batozai (Batozai, Baratkhail, Hamzazai, Rustamzai, Hiaderzai)

4-Akhterzai (Atherzai, Saibzai, Alikhail, Daulatzai, Merozai, Alozai, Jogezai)

5-Sharan Jogezai (Jogezai, Karimzai, Shahzai)

6-Tubli (Khodzai, Shahzai)

7-Badini (Shahzai, Merzai)

8-Musafir Pur. (Ismailzai, Ghorezai)

9-Town Muslim Bagh (Sargarah, Rahatzai, Sultanzai, Bazai, Mirdadzai,

Khoidadzai, Samkhail, Durani & some Panjabis)

10-Sadar Muslim Bagh (

12-Kanchoghi (Essa kkhail, Barakzai)

12-Murgha Faqirzai (Merzai-Faqirzai)

13-Nasai (Khoidadzai)

14-Loiband (Merzai, Jalalzai)

15-Kan Mehterzai (Mehterzai and Bazai)

Mainly tribes of Killa Saifullah are:

KAKAR: Sanzerkhails and Sanatas

SANZERKHAIL: Mirzai-Shadozai, Batozai-Ismailzai-Haiderzai-Ghorezai, Sargarah

in Muslibagh, Youniskhail

SANATIA: Mehterzai, Sultanzai, Barakzai, Bazai,

FAMOUS PERSONALITIES

Sardar Shah Jehan Jogezai (The Badshah of Zhob)

Dost Mohamad KhanJogezai

Mohammad Akbar Khan Jogezai (Grandson of Shah Jehan Jogezai

& maternal grandson of Saifullah Khan Khoidadzai)

Nawab Bangul Khan Jogezai (The son of Dost Mohammad Jogezai)

Saifullah Khan Khoidadzai (After whom Killa Saifullah has been

named)

Maik Hamza Daulatzai (Martyred during Daulatzai war with

British forces in 1884)

Basharat Khoidadzai (The son-in-law of Shah Jehan Jogezai)

Sher Jan Jogezai (Who killed the British Political agent BARNES of Zhob

by revolver)

Baaz Jogezai

Other famous Personalities

Nawab Taimur Shah Jogezai

Shehzada Khan Merzai (The Sardar of Mirzai Kakar TRibe)

Malik Raza Musazai

Haji Lughunai Shahzai

Haji Lonrai Alikhail

Baz Mohammad Khan Mehterzai

Haji Abdul Wahab Khoidadzai

Malik Abdul Rehman Akhterzai

KEY POLITICAL FIGURES (2010)

Maulana Abdul Wasay (Senior Minister Balochistan)

Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai (Ex-Senator)

Maulana Asmatullah (MNA, Amir Jamiat Nazaryati)

Usman Khan Kakar (Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party)

Sardar Wazir Ahmed Jogezai (Ex-Deputy Speaker National Assembly)

Malik Aman ullah Mehterzai (PMLQ)

Engineer Naeem Kakar (PML-N)

Haji Hidayat ullah Kakar & Mamon Khan Kakar (ANP)

Haji Abdullah Musazai & Sher Shah Jogezai (PPP)