Government
The ruling family of Chitral was the Katur dynasty, founded by Shah Katur (1585–1630), which governed Chitral until 1969 when the government of Pakistan took over. During the reign of Mehtar Aman-ul-Mulk, known as Lot (Great) Mehtar, the dynasty's sway extended from Asmar in the Kunar Valley of Afghanistan to Punial in the Gilgit Valley.
Tribes in Upper Swat, Dir Kohistan and Kafiristan (present day Nuristan, not to be confused with the Kalasha valleys which have always been an integral part of Chitral) paid tribute to the Mehtar of Chitral.
The ruler's title, Mehtar, is unique; his male descendants were styled Mehtarjao, equally rare, until the higher (Persian) royal style Shahzada, originally reserved for the Crown Prince (Tsik mehtar, again unique, as Heir Persumptive, becoming Wali-Akht Sahib when heir Apparent), was extended to all princes of the Mehtar's blood since the rulers at that point.
The scions of the Katur dynasty are still widely respected and honoured by the people of Chitral today, but the current Mehtar, H.H. Mehtar Muhammad Saif ul-Mulk Nasir does not hold any official powers. He is married to the daughter of Nawab Muhammad Saeed Khan, the Nawab of Amb and has two sons and two daughters including:
1. Mehtarbaak Shahzada Fateh ul-Mulk 'Ali Nasir, Wali-Akht Sahib, born 27 November 1983
2. Shahzada Hammad ul-Mulk Nasir, born 20 September 1990
| Tenure | Mehtars of Chitral |
|---|---|
| 1712–1745 | Sangeen Ali |
| 1745 - Unknown date | Mohammad Beg |
| Unknown date - 1775 | Kazi shahbaz Ahmed khan |
| 1775–1790 | Faramarz Shah of Yasin |
| 1790–1795 | Shah Afzal I |
| 1795–1798 | Shah Fazal |
| 1798 - Unknown date | Shah Khairullah Khuswaqte |
| Unknown date - 1818 | Mohtaram Shah II (1st time) |
| 1818 - 1820s | Nawaz Khan |
| 1820s - 1833 | Aman ul-Mulk I |
| 1833–1837 | Mohtaram Shah II (2nd time) |
| 1837–1853 | Shah Afzal II |
| 1853–1857 | Mohtaram Shah III |
| 1857 - 30 August 1892 | Aman ul-Mulk II |
| 30 August 1892 – 1 December 1892 | Afzal ul-Mulk |
| 1 December 1892 – 12 December 1892 | Shir Afzal Khan |
| 12 December 1892 – 1 January 1895 | Nizam ul-Mulk |
| 1 January 1895 – 2 September 1895 | Amir ul-Mulk |
| 1 May 1895 – 13 October 1936 | Shuja ul-Mulk |
| 13 October 1936 – 29 June 1943 | Mohammad Nasir ul-Mulk |
| 29 June 1943 – 7 January 1949 | Mohammad Muzaffar ul-Mulk |
| 7 January 1949 – 14 October 1953 | Saif ur-Rahman |
| 14 October 1953 – 28 July 1969 | Mohammad Saif ul-Mulk Nasir |
| 28 July 1969 | State of Chitral dissolved |
Read more about this topic: Chitral (princely State)
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