Birhmani (Baloch Tribe) - Birhmani

Birhmani

The Birhmani of Punjab number around 20 000 and are settled in D.G Khan, Rajanpur, Jampur &Muzzaffargarh. Those of D.G.Khan live mostly in Choti Zareen. Choti Zareen is the seat of the Laghari tribal chief and the Birahmani tribe there has merged with the Laghari. Longworth Dames, in his book, "Baloch Tummans and Tribes", mentions the Birhmani as a Laghari sub-tribe.

In Sindh, Birhmani, numbering about 50 000, are scattered around Larkana and along the shores of the Arabian Sea. They also reside in the Hala range, Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar Some tribesmen, whose chief is Saleh Muhammad, occupy a hilly tract in the Kirthar Mountains.

Birhmani migrated from Balochistan to Punjab in the late sixteenth century. The movement was the result of a quarrel between two brothers, Mohammad & Birahim. At the time of Meero (son of Muhammad), the dispute turned into hostility and consequently Adam (son of Birahim) left Balochistan along with his family and some Doambki supporters. He settled in Dera Ghazi Khan; back at home Meero became the chief of Doambkis. Thus the "Meerani" (descendants of Meero) are still the chiefs of Doambkis. From D.G.Khan, a great many Birhmani migrated to Sindh.

Birhmani of Punjab are predominantly Shia Muslims while those of Sindh and Balochistan are Sunnis. The family of the late Ramzan Khalid Birahmania, scholar of Persian and Urdu, is the most notable among the Birhmanis of Punjab due to its presence in the political scene of D.G Khan and Rajanpur.

Politically, Birhmanis have supported the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Ramzan Khalid Birhmani was patronised by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and he contested against Farooq Khan Laghari in the districts of D.G.Khan and Rajanpur during the 1970s. During the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq ordered the village of PPP loyalists near Goth Laghari to be bulldozed. This tribe in the area of choti Zareen is very famous for their education, lots of doctors and engineer plus some are serving in civil services. Besides this, young blood of this tribe is also working in overseas specially in Gulf and western countries. The tribe in majority is united except couple of unsychronized minds.