Mirpur District

Mirpur
— District —
Map of Azad Kashmir with Mirpur highlighted
Country	Pakistan
Province	Azad Kashmir
Capital	Mirpur
Established	1947
Government
- District Nazim
- District Naib Nazim
Area
- Total	1,010 km² (390 sq mi)
Population
- Total	371,000
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
District Council

Mirpur District is a district in Pakistan's Azad Kashmir Territory.^[1] The district is named after the main city - Mirpur. The District of Mirpur has a population of 371,000 and covers an area 1,010 km2.^[1] The district is mostly mountainous with some patches of plain areas, its hot and dry climate and other geographical conditions closely resemble those of Jhelum and Gujrat, the adjoining Districts of Pakistan.

Administration

Mirpur District is located in the south west of the Kashmir region. It is part of Azad Kashmir which comes under the Pakistan side. Jammu is currently managed by India. Both countries are currently in dispute as to which country owns Jammu and Kashmir. Azad Kashmir has been considered politically, constitutionally and geographically as part of a separate state, i.e. Jammu & Kashmir.

Consequently, fiscal issues, i.e. budget and tax affairs have been dealt with by the 'Azad Jammu & Kashmir Council', instead of the Central Board of Revenue. Azad Jammu & Kashmir Council is a supreme body, consisting of 11 members — 6 of these members are from the Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and 5 members are from the Government of Pakistan.

Also its chairman / chief executive is always the President of Pakistan. Hence, the rest of members are Azad Kashmir's own Prime Minister and President and some ministers, (also note that Azad Kashmir has its own president, prime minister and legislative assembly also supreme-court and high-court and other departments). The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) is responsible for tax affairs of rest of all Pakistani territory, i.e. all four provinces and the capital, Islamabad.

Immigration

People from this region of Azad Kashmir have mostly migrated to the UK, this happened during the two world wars. Many men from the area served in the British Indian Army. In the '60s and '70s the men brought their families from Azad Kashmir and settled in the UK. During the last four decades a large number of people from this district have gone abroad, especially to United Kingdom to earn their livelihood. The Mangla Dam project in the early sixties resulted in the displacement of a large number of people, who under an agreement between the Pakistan government and the British government, were allowed to settle in the UK.

Apart from the UK people of Mirpur have also gone to Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Oman, Amman, Qatar, some to Turkey. Almost in every country of the world usually Mirpuri people represent the Kashmiri community.

Subdivisions

The district is administratively subdivided into three Tehsils, these are:

Attractions

Baghsar Lake
Bandala Valley
Islamgarh - a famous town of Mirpur.
Khari Sharif - located 8 km from Mirpur, famous for its Sufi shrines.
Mangla, a town 16 km from Mirpur, it is situated at the mouth of the Mangla Dam for which it is famous.
Rajoa
Ramkot Fort
Sahalia
Samahni Valley

Ethnic groups

See main article Ethnic Groups of Azad Kashmir

The people of Mirpur District are divided into a number of ethnic groups and tribes, here is a list of the main ones:

Awan

They are mostly found in all the Districts as in Poonch Singola Awanabad, Chak,Dhamni,Goe Nala,Panula and also in a majority in Tehsil Hajira,Sudhnuti Plandri,Muzaffarabad Distt,Bagh Distt,Kotli distt,Bhimber Distt,Neelam Distt and In MirPur Sangot, Mohra Malkan, Ghaseetpur Awan, [[Khari Sharif] BIDDER AWAN] and Andrah Kalan near Islamgarh. Many people from this tribe have settled in the UK.

Bains

A major clan in the Mirpur District, with many villages around Islamgarh town such as Potha Bainsi and Kalyal Bhainsi. Like almost all of the Mirpur District, they are Pahari speaking. Nearby in the Punjab they are speakers of the Punjabi and speak other Lahnda languages depending on where they reside. Bais have been residents of the areas of Kashmir and Punjab for millennia, having moved there as Dhangars and also moved during times of trade and so do not originate from Azad Kashmir but rather moved down from northern parts of Kashmir and from Punjab from both India and Pakistan for commerce and trade of land over the last few centuries.

As most Bais of the region are the descendants of the Dhangar tribes that came from modern day Northern India and settled in the areas, the name Bais is pronounced in also very common: Bhains, the pronunciation of the clans name in ancient Dhangar texts. This causes great confusion with the Bains (Jat) found in Punjab although there is hardly any or no link between the two ethnic groups.

Batti

Batti is not an ethnic group but is a clan which has been listed as belonging to both Jatts and Rajputs. This is the largest tribe active in Ankra (Mirpur Dadyal) and is placed 4th in the caste ranking. There is slight confusion amongst people as a minority of Bhatti's were tailors of the village. Bhatti's were mainly land owners and many have sold up due to the need of the Mangla dam. The government bought land of many of these Bhatti's. Some have moved to neighbouring villages and many moved to Britain to fill in the need for skilled workers.

Gujjar

They are the third largest tribe in the district. Most reside in Mirpur, Islamgarh, Sahalia, Dadyal and New Mirpur. Gujjars in Mirpur are in a minority, compared to Jatt and Rajput, this is mainly due to most of them having emigrated when old Mirpur was flooded following the construction of the Mangla Dam. They are very united and active in politics, enterprise and bureaucracy of AJK. The Gujjar clans are kallas,Banya,Bagri, Bajar, Bhumbla, Bjarh, Chandpuri, Chauhan, Chechi, Hans, Khatana, Khepar and Meelu.

Jat

A Jatt is not a tribe or caste rather a collection of different tribes who are collectively called JATT. The Jatts of Mirpur share ancestrals links with the Pothwar area where some are known as Rajput. Jatts reside in Dadyal, Mirpur city and Khari Sharif. Most reside in the traditional Jat heartlands of Chakswari, Dadyal, New city of Mirpur and the countryside surrounding Mirpur, which is overwhelmingly Jat. The main Jat villages in Mirpur City are Ban Khurma, Chitterpury, Chappar, Balah-Gala, Kas Kalyal, Khambal, Khroota, Purkhan, Sangot, Dheri Thothal and Seem with many villages around the Khari Sharif area. Jat's play an active role in the commerce & politics of AJK. They are the largest and most dominant group by population and politically in the city and district of Mirpur. Jat clans are made up of the Arnyals,Badhan, Bangial, Dhamials, Kalyals, Kanyals, Mathyals, Mehal, Nagyals, Nathyals, Punyals,Rachyals, Ranyals Rupyals and Thathaals.(Aasar),(Manjaal),(Kanjal),(Karyal), Jats and pakhreel.

Kashmiri

Main city clans in Mirpur include Butt, Khwajah, Lone, Most work in the trade sector, especially in gold. They are the descendants of Kashmiri workmen who migrated to the plains of Punjab from the Kashmir Valley in the 16th and 17th centuries. Also very active in mechanical work for example metalwork and car mechanics.

Mistry

Mistry are the artisan classes/tribes. As Mistry translates to builder/carpenter,they are confined to the building trade.

Mughals

Rajput is the main cost of Bar-e-Sager Pak Indo, which contains some stems like Mughal, Mirza, Jarral Major stems there are also some little stems of Rajput

Gakhar

They use the title Raja or Kiyani and classify themselves as Rajputs which is not recognized by rajput clans. Gakkars were the original rulers of Mirpur and Pothwar regions.

Shaikh

Shaikh is a title used by Khatris, Brahmin and rajput clans who converted from Hinduism to Islam. Size able minority of Sheikhs reside in Mirpur district.

Sayyed

Though they are not big in numbers they are an active people and occupy prominent positions in all sectors.

Sohlan

They are majority tribe in Khari Sharif area. The Sohlan are a Rajput tribe connected with the Narma. They are said to be of Panwar Rajput descent which is a sub-branch of the [[Parama Rajputs. They are culturally close to the Narma Rajputs. Many elders of this clan were lambardars and Zaildar collecting taxes on behlaf of the Dogra Maharajah of Kashmir who ruled the Mirpur area.

Villages

Mirpur Tehsil

[THOTHAL ]Abdupur, Abdulahpur, Afzalpur (Mirpur), Alghar, Andrah Kalan, Arah Jagir,Aarayin, Arnoh, Azizpur, Babyam, Baga Balwal, Baghpur, Bains (Mirpur), Bajar, Balwara, Balyala, Bang, Bangrela, Bani, Barkat, Batnian, Bidder, Bijoran, Boha, Bothi, Burial, Burjan, Chabrian Dattan, Chabrian Gujran, Chak Dolat, Chak Ghaian, Chak Haryam, Chak Nigah, Chak Mughlani, Chaka Raja, Chak Roopa, Chak Sagar, Chak Sarwani, Chak Thakra,Chandral Chatan, Chechian, Chohan Balya PC, Chohan Bothi PC, Dab, Dalyala, Datial, Dhal Mahmood, Dalyala, Dhalila, Dhamat, Dhang Dev, Dhangiri Bahadar, Dheri Raidewanchand, Dheri Barwan, Dheri Bhanian, Dheri Bruttian, Dheri Dhamial, Dheri Kandu Khan, Dheri Mehr Rodu, Dheri Nasrullah, Dheri Phali, Dheri Ramu, Dheri Rustam, Dheri Phali, Dheri Sultanpur, Dheri Susral, Dheri Thathaal, Dhornal, Dhudian, Dilu Chak, Domal, Dudal Jagir, Dullar, Dunglian, Fareeda, Ganoi, Ghaseetpur Awan, Ghaseetpur Sohalian, Ghasipur, Ghillay, Godari,Gorah Sanwala,Gunday, Gurrah Awan, Hamnal Bandore, Harchial, Hardo Sahota, Islamgarh, Jagram, Jamohi, Jangian Kotla, Janial, Jari, Jarol Kalan, Jathu, Jatlan, Joian, Kakra, Kalas, Kalyal Bhainsi, Kanali, Kangra, Kas Kalyal, Khangal, Kharek, Khari Sharif, Khokhar, Khurd, Kotla Dattan, Kotli Sarsawa, Lali, Lehri, Liddar, Loharay, Mahngraj, Malote Burjan, Mamoonpur, Manda,mangala, Mari, Mawa,Mehmunpur Rajgan, Mola, Muamer, Mughal, Nagial, Naka Chan Shah, Nandwal, Naugran, Pakhral, Panyam, Pindi Khurd, Pindi Subherwal, Plak, Potha Bainsi, Qazi Chak, Raipur (Mirpur), Rakhyal, Rangpur, Rathoa Mehroo, Rathoa Mohammad Ali, Ratli, Reing, Salyal Sharif, Saggar (Mirpur), Sahib Chak, Sahng, Sam, Samwal, Seb, Sehns, Shahpur (Mirpur), Shar Burjan, Sheikh (Mirpur), Sukh Chanpur, Sunkia, Takipur, Thothal and Titrot. Pothi,Tarapa,Jundyal,Fazal abad,Dohala.mohri ,Dhangri Bala Metha Jagir

Dadyal Tehsil

Amb (Dadyal), Ankar, Bal Piran, Baloh, Bandrian Blagara, Barhat, Basar, Bathar, Bathroi, Behari, Bheli, Chak Bhopa, Chak Kot, Chak Sharaf Shah, Chalayar, Chana, Chapare, Chattroh, Dagar, Darunni, Dheegal, Dheri Qasim, Dudh Prat, Ganchoor, Ghaner, Haveli Baghal, Jamian Sandhera, Kalarwari, Kaljoor, Kathar Dilawar, Khareri, Kheri, Majwari, Malote, Mandi (Mirpur),Mohar Jattan, Mohra Malkan, Mohra Sher Shah, Naili Syedan, Onah, Pahaith, Palot, Panor, Parot, Peel Bakhshi Molraj, Phagal Chak, Phaglian, Phair Syedan, Pippli, Potha Bangash, Potha Sher, Raipur, Rajoa, Ratta, Sahalia, Sahar Thala, Sain Baruttian, Samlota, Sandal, Sanwala Piran, Sarot, Siakh Pahaith, Sochani, Sorakhi, Thalarajwali Khan, Thanpal, Thara & Thub Jagir. Salyal sharif