Murree Tehsil - Tribal Histories

Tribal Histories

Dhoond Khan Abbasi (from whom the Dhond Abbasi tribe descended), came to Murree in the middle of the 12th century.

While Mohazzam Shah, alias Dhanni Pir (from whom the Dhanyal tribe descended), arrived around 1190 from Dhanni, Chakwal, Shah's parents had ruled Multan State for about 190 years and were descended from Alvis, who migrated from Iraq early in the 8th century. Mohazzam Shah supported Shahabuddin Ghouri intermittently to curb the activities of Dogra Rajputs, who were against his leadership. In the 13th century, Mohazzam Shah died fighting against the Hindu Dogra Rajputs, and a separate tribe, Dhanyal, was established. The followers of Mohazzam Shah have made a shrine in his memory on Lehtrar Road, a rural area of Islamabad. All Dhanyals are Alvis and are the descendants of Mohazzam Shah. As he had control over Kashmir, Murree and the surrounding area, the tribe is often called Raja, a king tribe in the locality. Between Dhanyals, they have seven or eight offshoots of the tribe living in Hazara, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Bagh Azad Kashmir, Sialkot, Chakwal, Multan and other parts of Pakistan. All are Sunni Muslims. Although they have never participated in the national politics of Pakistan, they are well represented in the Pakistani Armed Forces. Hundreds of Dhanyals sacrificed their lives in World War II and the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1947, 1965 and 1971.

Raja Afzal Khan was famous politician of Satti Tribe. He contested lagislative assembly election and was second Chairman of Union Council Chahrian, who belongs to Village Dhal. His family is head of Dhal valley.