Naushera - History - Mughal Period

Mughal Period

In the sixteenth century the head of this tribe was Muhammad Akbar Khan’s, a descendant of Ali ibn Abi Talib, his name also is associated in the local legend with Aku Khan. In “History of Awan,” his descendants are listed separately. His elder son Muhammad Sarwar had two sons, Muhammad Bilal Ali Khan (in some record Bilawal Khan) the fore father of Awan of Naushera, and Muhammad Media Khan, whose descendants are Great Maliks of Kund. During the period of British Raj in the early twentieth century Malik Muhammad Khan Zaildar was head of this tribal branch of Kund.. British government delineated zails comprising five to forty villages in most of the Punjab, drawing them to reflect the tribal distribution of the population. In every Zail the government appointed a zaildar, who was intended to be “ the leading of a particular tribe or section of the country. These Zaildars were ideally the leaders of the local tribes. The family tree of Muhammad Akbar Khan, follows:

In the seventeenth century, the Tiwanas defeated a weak branch of Awans at Hadali, a Village 5 miles north from Mitha Tiwanas and south of Soon Valley. The newly converted Muslims Rajput Tiwanas were so fascinated by the honorific title of Malik of Arabs marauders, that after defeating Awan tribe they adopted the title “Malik.” After this victory the Tiwanas Rajputs advanced northward towards Soon Valley, but Muhammad Sarwar Khan collected his levies, defeated Tiwanas army at south of the Soon valley hills having taken the city of Kund. After this defeat the road was block for Tiwanas to march north ward in the future. Muhammad Sarwar’s younger son Muhammad Media Khan descendants permanently settled at this more prosperous plain and open plateau south of the Soon Valley and during the period of British Raj became great Maliks and Zaildar of this area.

While other branches of the tribe moved down to more prosperous plain and open plateaux outside Soon Valley, the main branch always settled in the mountainous regions. The Awan historians maintain that in the early seventeenth century appears Muhammad Himayat Ali, the elder son of Muhammad Bilal Ali, the head of the tribe of the Salt Range and a descendant of Ali ibn Talib, through the line of Al-Abbas ibn Ali in 29 number of the line, His name also is associated in the local legend with Aali Himat (in some record Himat Khan). He maintained his dominian in these mountainous region. In his time he was settled at Karora near present day city of Naushera.

Himayat Ali’s elder son Hashim Derya had two sons, Muhammad Saeed, the fore father of qazis of Naushera, and Muhammad Shahbaz, whose descendants are Muhammad Latif and Muhammad Meher. on the death of Hashim Derya, great differences arose in the family. Muhammad Saeed claimed the chiefship while Muhammad Latif and Muhammad Meher claimed through their father. One other claim was made by Fateh khan. The Awans were divided but, it was only the influence of Muhammad Saeed,that prevented the dispute.

Muhammad Saeed descendants founded the village Naushera at the end of 16th century in the present day place (Naushera means New City in Arabic). The family tree of Muhammad Bilal Ali Khan goes like this: