Allai District is a district in the Hazara Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Allai District
District
Country Pakistan
Province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
DivisionHazara Division
Tehsils01
Established23 January 2023
Founded byGovernment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Area
 • Total
521 km2 (201 sq mi)
Population
 (2017 census)
 • Total
180,414
 • Density350/km2 (900/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+5 (PKT)

On 22 January 2023, the government announced the establishment of Allai district. It was separated from Battagram District.

Formation

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The Allai district covers an area of 521 sq km and has a population of 180,414 according to the 2017 census. It consists of eight union councils including Banna, Batila, Batkul, Biari, Jumbera, Pashto, Rushing and Shakargah. Allai was previously a tehsil within the Battagram District of the Hazara division.[1][2][3]

History

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Allai tribal State (1595–1971)

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Allai was formerly a state ruled by Nawabs of Allai. Nawab Muhammad Ayub Khan was the last Nawab of Allai State until 1971. This state had its own currency. Arsala Khan Swati was the most powerful ruler among the Nawabs of Allai as he is famous for his great resistance against British rule. Arsala Khan was also the Chief of Independent Swatis who defended Yaghistan with the support of Panjghol Swatis, Panjmeral Swatis, Arghushal Swati Khans of Thakot and Khankhail Swatis of Hill and Banser.[4] Nawabs of Allai belong to the Bebal subsection of Gabri Swatis. Pokal was the capital of state.

Nawabs of Allai tribal state
From To Nawab
1595 1623 Ahmed Ali Khan Swati (Founder of the state)
1623 1645 Khan Raja Khan Swati
1645 1664 Khan Muhammad Khan Swati
1664 1685 Khan Nabi Khan Swati
1685 1714 Khan Khawaja Muhammad Khan Swati
1714 1746 Khan Gul Muhammad Khan Swati
1746 1772 Khan Rustam Khan Swati
1772 1805 Khan Hakim Khan Swati
1805 1835 Khan Jamal Khan Swati
1835 1890 Khan Arsala Khan Swati
1890 1923 Nawab Ghazi Khan Swati
1923 1952 Nawab Roshan Khan Swati
1952 1989 Nawab Ayub Khan Swati
1989 2024 Akbar Namoos Khan Swati[5]
2024 Prince Nawaz Khan Swati

Current chieftainship

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However the status of state has been abolished. Akbar Namoos Khan, elder son of Nawab Ayub Khan Swati was the Chief of Allai Valley till 30 November, 2024, succeeded by his younger brother Prince Nawaz Khan Swati on 1 December, 2024.[6]

People

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Majority of population of Allai belongs to different clans of Swati tribe same like the neighboring Battagram District and Mansehra District. Swatis own majority of lands in these three districts. The main language spoken in the district is Pashto.

References

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  1. ^ "KP govt upgrades status of tehsil Allai to new district". 22 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Govt to award district status to Allai tehsil, says KP CM". 26 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Allai tehsil of Battagram given district status". 22 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Allaiwal complications on the Hazara frontier". INDIAN CULTURE. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  5. ^ Correspondent, The Newspaper's (2021-11-26). "Govt to award district status to Allai tehsil, says KP CM". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-12-19. MNA Mohammad Nawaz, MPA Zubair Khan, Chief of Allai Nawabzada Akbar Namoos and others also addressed the public gathering. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ Correspondent, Our (2024-11-30). "Veteran Political Figure of Allai Battagram "Aka Jan" Passes Away". The Northern Post. Retrieved 2024-12-19. According to his family members, Chief of Allai Akbar Namoos Khan, known as "Aka Jan", Nawab of Allai" breathed his last on Saturday as he had been suffering from cardiac arrest and undergoing treatment. His sudden demise has sent shockwaves throughout the community, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable achievements and a void that can never be filled. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)