The People of Hazara Part 2

4. TURKS.

Mankara Village View

The name Turk is a "Tartar" word which means "Wanderer". while literally it means an iron helmet. The Turks in Hazara are the descendants of Mongolian Kurluke  Turks, who had entered this area with Taimur in 1399 A.D. At one time they were dominant and had ruled the Pakhli area for more than three hundred years. But Pathan and other invaders expelled them gradually from their possessions.

Tomb On Hill Near Mankara

They, throughout their existence, saw many ups and down in this area. For instance at the start of the 18th century A.D. they were ousted from their headquarters Mankarai (a village near Haripur) by the Ghurghust Afghans. During the same period the Swaties also expelled them from Tanawal and Pakhli area. For the time being they remained as wanderers but in 1786, due to their request to Taimur Shah son of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Turks were re-instated in Mankara. Now a days in Hazara they dwell mostly in Haripur and in Mansehra District and Mankara is still counted as their headquarters in Hazara.

5.DILAZAKS.

Railway Station Sarai Saleh

Though H.W Bellew is of the opinion that it is not clear who these Dilazaks are? but it is a fact that the Dilazaks are a sub-section of the Pathans. They also consider themselves as members of Kadai Karlani branch of the Pathans. Irshad Khan also mentioned that their genealogical connection with the Afghans had been found during 17th century.

According to saome historians, the Dilazaks had entered Hazara in the first half of 17th century, while a majority of the historians are of the view that they had entered this area in 1553 A.D.

Dor River In Sarai Saleh

They faced many hardships in Hazara. In 1615, for instance, Shah Saleem Badshah (Muhammad Jehangir) bodily deported the Dilazaks from Hazara, as well as from Peshawar and settled them as a colony in Dhakka. But during Emperor Alamgir,s reign they were again permitted to live in Hazara. Scattered families of this tribe are still to be found along the left bank  of the river Indus and the Dor, while Sarai-Saleh, constructed by one Dilazak chief, named Saleh Muhammad Khan during 1772, is still their headquarters in Hazara.