Leghari

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Leghari (Urdu: لغاری) also spelt as "Laghari" in Sindh is a Baloch tribe living in Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. The Leghari Baloch primarily speak the Seraiki, Sindi, and Balochi language.

[edit] Origins of the Tribe

The Leghari Baloch tribe is one of the largest of Baloch tribes. The Leghari baloch are originally "Rind Baloch". The Baloch do not have documented history and as such the exact movement of the tribe is not known yet it is established that the tribe has had influence in past centuries in the Sibi, Barkhan and Loralai area of Balochistan . More than two centuries ago they conquered a large part of what is today Dera Ghazi Khan district and established themsleves at Choti Zareen (Lower Choti). The Leghari Tumandars (or Sardars i.e Tribal leaders) ruled a vast territory and collected tax from as far off as Barkhan in Balochistan.

The Leghari Tumandar Sardar Mohammad Rahim Khan Leghari established the town of Choti Bala (Upper Choti). Upon the death of the Sardar, three of his sons, Sardar Ghulam Haider Khan Leghari, Sardar Mir Alam Khan Leghari, and Sardar Allahdad Khan Leghari migrated to State of Bahawalpur and established Rahimabad in about 1860 AD; Rahimabad is now in Rahimyar Khan District.

The famous Talpur Mirs (rulers) of Sindh are a clan of the Leghari tribe and migrated to Sindh on the invitation of the Kalhora rulers. They were accompanied by many other Baloch clans like the Jatois, Khosas, Chandios, etc.

The Leghari tribe is settled mainly in present day Lower Punjab and Sindh province though the Legharis have large land holdings in Balochistan.

The Leghari sardars (chiefs) belong to the Aliani clan of the Leghari tribe. They are settled in Dera Ghazi Khan (Choti) and Rahim Yar Khan (Rahimabad).

The current sardar of the Leghari tribe is Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari (former President of Pakistan and leader of the Millat Party).

The Leghari family probably has the largest "family" representation in the parliament of Pakistan. Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, his son Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecom, nieces Sumera Malik and Ayla Malik (grand-daughters of Malik Amir Mohammed Khan of Kalabagh), his cousin Muhammad Jaffar Khan Leghari and Jaffar's wife Mrs. Mina Leghari are members of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari's elder son Muhammad Jamal Khan Leghari is a member of the Senate of Pakistan. Rafique Haider Khan Leghari is the Nazim of Rahimyar Khan. Another cousin, Sardar Maqsood Ahmed Khan Leghari is the Nazim of Dera Ghazi Khan. His son, Muhammad Khan Leghari is a member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab. Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari and Muhammad Yusuf Khan Leghari are members of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, Nadir Akmal Khan Leghari is a member of the Provincial Assembly of the Sindh and the Minister for Irrigation in the Government of Sindh, while Dr. Javaid Laghari is a member of the Senate of Pakistan from Sindh.