Jiskani - History

History

Baloch form a large portion of the whole population of Seraiki wasaib. They are found in considerable numbers in all Siraiki districts. The Balochs started settling in Siraiki wasaib about the middle of 15th century. By the middle of 15th century the Brahui, a tribe believed to be of Dravidian origin, drove the Balochs out of the fertile valley of Kelat and established supremacy over their northern tribes. These Baloch tribes moved east ward into lower Sulemans driving the Pathans before them along the range. Many of these latter took service with the Langah rulers of Multan and were granted lands along the river. About 1480 AD, Ismail Khan and Fateh Khan, two sons of Malik Sohrab Khan, and Ghazi Khan, son of Haji Khan, all Dodais of Rind extraction, founded three Deras, namely Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Ismail Khan and Dera Fateh Khan. The tribal name of "Dodai" disappeared, because leaders were of a different tribe from their followers. The representatives and tribesmen of Ghazi Khan were locally called "Mihrani", those of Ismail Khan as "Hot" and those of Fatah Khan as "Kulache".

With Ghazi Khan came the Jiskani Balochs, who occupied the Cis-Indus tract above Bakkar. During the later half of 16th century, Daud Khan a Jiskani and descendants of one of Ghazi Khan followers moved southwards and captured the greater part of Layyah. Emperor Akbar dispersed his tribe, but early in 17th century, the independence of the Jiskani under Baloch Khan was recognized, and it is from Baloch Khan that the Jiskani, Mandrani, Mamdani, Sargani, Qalandrani and Muliani, who still live in Bhakkar and Layyah districts, trace their descent. The most Balochs in Layyah and Bhakkar are Jiskani, Mamdanis and Rind.