Members of Chitral’s largest Razakhel clan form welfare body
GH Farooqui
DROSH: The Razakhel clan of Chitral on Sunday formally announced its decision of forming an association which will be working for the betterment of its members living across the valley.
At a meeting attended by representatives of the tribe from across Chitral, the interim office-bearers of the association were administered oath. Former tehsil nazim of Mastuj Mr Shamsur Rehman was the chief guest while the event was chaired by Mr Kamal Uddin.
Speaking on the occasion, prominent literary figure and retired Principal Maula Nigah Nigah shed light on the objectives of the gathering and the formation of the Al-Raza Association. He said the aim of the initiative was to bring the members of the Raza living across Chitral to a single platform and promote unity among them.
It may be noted that the Razakhels are the descendents of Muhammad Raza, son of Sangin Ali-1, whose other sons were Muhtaram Shah alias Katoor, Muhammad Baig and Khush Waqt etc.
According to the census documents of the government of Pakistan, the Raza tribe of Chitral are the most numerous in numbers and live from Drosh in lower Chitral to Wasum in the Yarkhun valley and Rech of Torkhow valley of Upper Chitral.
It is for the first time in the recent history that the Razakhels have come together and have been holding meetings to promote unity and coordination and work for their betterment.
The speakers at these meetings, especially the youth, have been stressing the need to work for bridging the gaps and distances that developed among them with the passage of time in the past. The new technological development, rising literacy rate and access to the social media across the valley have been helpful in bringing the members of the clan closer.
The speakers referred to different census documents and said population-wise the Razakhel tribe was the biggest in Chitral with the number of its registered voters being more than 22,000.
The speakers said the association would not only be working for uniting the Raza family members and bringing them closer but following the traditions of its forefathers would also be contributing to the promotion of unity, harmony and cooperation with other clans of Chitral irrespective of any considerations.
The interim office-bearers who will work for three months till the election of a cabinet included the following:
Maulan Nigah Niga, patron-in-chief; Engineer Khalid Jameel, president; Zahir Uddin (Yarkhun), senior vice president; Ghafar Lal (Mroi), senior vice president; Asif Raza, vice president (Chitral); retired AC Noor Gulab Khan, vice president (Mastuj); Fakhar Alam Lal, president (tehsil Drosh); Qamar Uddin, president (tehsil Chitral); Ali Jabbar Khan of Awi; president tehsil Torkhow; Muhammad Habib Khan, (Warijun), president tehsil Mulkhow; Noor Ajam Khan (Chapali) central general secretary; Mujibur Rehman (Mroi), joint secretary; Asghar Ali (Awi), finance secretary; Siddiq Akbar (Drosh), information secretary; Jalali Advocate (Kosht), legal adviser; Shafiq Uddin (Drosh) joint secretary finance, and Sajid Ullah (Rech), information secretary.
Congratulation! We r observing divides from Brexit to President Donald Trump to PM Narendra Modi to Raza family.Where is the world going
I agree with comments above of Observer and other. Obviously this is Tribalism,gaps and many other……..
The greatest Muslim Sociologist of the 14th Century, a theologian, philosopher and historian, Ibn Khaldun is known because of his concept of “Assabiyyah”- An Arabic word meaning Prejudice or blind following. However, Khaldun gave the word a new meaning and translated it as “Group solidarity”, “Social Cohesion”, “Blood-ties” or “Tribalism”. This cohesion, according to Khaldun arises in tribes and other small groups and brings that tribe or group to power and at the same time carries within itself the seeds (psychological, social, economic and political) of the groups downfall………..
We wish this new consciousness in the Chitrali tribe may be a message of peace, love and tribal harmony within chitral and may not be a new wave of fragmentation within our society in form of Syed, Yuft, Zondray, Katoor and other Unions.
This is a time to nurture in our society inclusive approach rather than exclusive worldview. We must shatter the differences based on Religion, Tribe, caste or region.
Firstly, would this help bring the society together or are we looking at another ethnic divide? As far as I know, Raza Khel’s are the only local landlords we see all across Chitral. Why is the need felt at this time to form an ethnic alliance?
Secondly, Could you please share with Mr. Gul Hamad Farooqi a suggestion and advice. One must gather complete information about the history of a tribe or clan when you intend to write about/on them. Why I say so is because of this author’s lack of knowledge of Chitral’s history. Muhammad Raza was the brother of Mohammad Baig who killed him along with his sons. Muhtaram Shah Katoor and Khush Waqt were Mohd Baig’s sons to put the records correct. This also implies that whether Katoorais, Khush Ahmades, Khush Wakhtes, Mohd Beges (Tariqullah’s, Bodales or Naitmatulas-they all come from the same lineage; thus fall under the once active “Ayubia Union”. Similarly, we have/had the yuft union, syed union, and the Zondre union. Nobody knows whose purpose they serve because they don’t have any legal existence which would make them a real force. Maybe it serves the political elites as in such like unions what matters is the word of the leaders-few, not the majority.
Thank you.
Saifuddin Saif.
Morder Chitral.
Unnecessary step… this is what leads to more gaps in society.
Anyways we hope it should work for them in a good way.
Thirdly i don’t know why it is on this website, an advertisement or some orher reasons.
What about all clans make their own associations and we should have clan identity cards instead of National ID.