The causes as enumerated in the book entitled “CIVIL SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER” from page 138 to 145, by the then Deputy Commissioner of Mardan, Abdur Rashid, are reproduced here. These were government views.
Elimination of Tribal Area and its merger in Mardan District.
Elimination of Tribal Area and its merger in Mardan District.
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“I received my order of transfer to Mardan with mixed feeling at the outset; the only redeeming feature in the new district appeared to me to be its nearness to my home. But when I actually started working there, I began to like it and the more I worked there the more grew my liking for it. I found the people very good and honorable. They themselves were respectable people and had regard for the respect of others. In fact they are a good and dignified specimen of Yusufzai tribe. I knew the people of Swabi Tehsil already and I found the people of Mardan Tehsil also to be possessing all the good qualities of the Yusufzai tribe of olden days.
The Deputy Commissioner used to see visitors on two fixed days in a week. Since I knew that it was not practicable, as exception had to be made in some cases which would savour of discrimination, I abolished this old practice and permitted visitors to see me every day when I was not on tour.
The first appalling news that I received after taking over was from the Supdt: of Police, who told me that not less then 250 outlaws were harboring in the Gadun tribal area attached to the Mardan District, who carried on their depredation in and outside the district. I was also told that not many days back the tonga, carrying mail from Swabi to Topi was attacked by armed robbers from the Gadun area and robbed of money and mail and that the robbers had been chased up to the border of the tribal area, beyond which the area was out of bound for the pursuers. This was a sorry state of affairs, indeed. I sent for the Gadun Jirga and warned them to surrender the outlaws or turn them out of their area by a certain date, failing which suitable action would be taken
The Deputy Commissioner used to see visitors on two fixed days in a week. Since I knew that it was not practicable, as exception had to be made in some cases which would savour of discrimination, I abolished this old practice and permitted visitors to see me every day when I was not on tour.
The first appalling news that I received after taking over was from the Supdt: of Police, who told me that not less then 250 outlaws were harboring in the Gadun tribal area attached to the Mardan District, who carried on their depredation in and outside the district. I was also told that not many days back the tonga, carrying mail from Swabi to Topi was attacked by armed robbers from the Gadun area and robbed of money and mail and that the robbers had been chased up to the border of the tribal area, beyond which the area was out of bound for the pursuers. This was a sorry state of affairs, indeed. I sent for the Gadun Jirga and warned them to surrender the outlaws or turn them out of their area by a certain date, failing which suitable action would be taken
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against them. By the date fixed, a number of outlaws were surrendered, but the majority were still hiding in the Gadun territory. The Jirga was called again and told to explain. They said that they had turned the rest of the outlaws out of country and that their area was now clear. From my own enquiries, however, I gathered that those of the outlaws that had not surrendered were still being harboured by the tribe, and I told them this and gave them another date by which to carry out the orders in full or face punishment. In the meantime, I informed the Govt. of what I had done and suggested that since the Gaduns had failed to carry out the order in full, I proposed to impose a fine (I named the amount) on them. Govt. wrote back that on principle my proposal was sound, but before they gave their approval they would like to be sure that the fine could be recovered from them. I assured the Govt. on this point and received their approval. I called the Gadoon Jirga again and announced the fine and fixed a date by which they should pay it. By that date, only a part of the fine was paid and there seemed little prospectus of their paying the balance in the ordinary manner. One fine morning, therefore, I and the S.P Mardan went out to Topi, a market town on the border and arrested a number of Gaduns and their animals and brought them to Swabi. The Gaduns were informed that they would be released as soon as balance of the fine was paid. F.C.R was inforced in those days, both in the settled districts and the tribal areas and such methods of recovery of fines were not unusual under that regulation. The fine was duly paid.
Later it came to my mind, keeping the geographical position of the Gadoon country in view, that it was only an awkward pocket of tribal territory
Later it came to my mind, keeping the geographical position of the Gadoon country in view, that it was only an awkward pocket of tribal territory
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which hardly deserved to be called so, and should not be an area that should be so much troublesome, and that efforts should be made to persuade the Gaduns to agree to their area being merged in the settled district of Mardan. I started contacting the more reasonable and tractable leaders of Gadun villages near the district border and, after discussing things with them, I made them to agree in writing to the merger of their villages in the settled district. I, however, kept the matter a secret, for I feared that if it became, at that stage, known to the rest of the Gaduns, it was likely that they would take reprisal against them. Instead, I deemed it advisable to continue efforts to secure similar agreements from the rest of the Gaduns, failing which to persuade Govt. to establish constabulary posts for the protection of the friendly villages, before the merger of these villages was publicly announced.
While these efforts were underway, an incident took place, which not only made the merger of the Gadun country necessary, but accelerated the process. This incident and its background are as follows:
In the tribal area of the Hazara District and, close to the border of the Gadun country, there are a few villages inhabited by people called “Astanadars”. The Gaduns claimed these villages and the lands attached to them as their property and the “Astanadars” as their tenants. Every year the Gaduns harassed these “Astanadars” in a number of ways at the time of recovery of rent from them. Sometimes, they even looted their houses and insulted their womenfolk. This treatment drove the “Astanadars” to apply to the Hazara District authorities for merger and
While these efforts were underway, an incident took place, which not only made the merger of the Gadun country necessary, but accelerated the process. This incident and its background are as follows:
In the tribal area of the Hazara District and, close to the border of the Gadun country, there are a few villages inhabited by people called “Astanadars”. The Gaduns claimed these villages and the lands attached to them as their property and the “Astanadars” as their tenants. Every year the Gaduns harassed these “Astanadars” in a number of ways at the time of recovery of rent from them. Sometimes, they even looted their houses and insulted their womenfolk. This treatment drove the “Astanadars” to apply to the Hazara District authorities for merger and
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protection. The Govt. set up two constabulary posts for their protection. With the establishment of the Constabulary posts, the Gaduns feared that they had lost their rights of ownership of these villages and the land, therefore, a party of Gaduns under the leadership of one Quraish of Dewal, went there to assert their rights and recover rent. This party was well received by the “Astanadars” who assured them that their merger would not affect the ownership rights of the Gaduns. The Party, after staying for sometime in these villages, departed for their homes, well satisfied. Just as they were starting on their return journey, some hot headed among the “Astanadars” feeling secure in the protection of the constabulary, fired shots at them, as a result of which Quraish received a bullet in the arm. The news spread to the Gadun villages and a Gadun lashkar set out to teach the “Astanadars” a lesson.
When the lashkar reached the area of “Astanadars”, the latter sought refuge with the constabulary. Since constabulary posts had been set up to give protection to these villages, which were now part of Hazara District, the Gaduns came into open conflict with the constabulary. Fighting started, but the constabulary was out-numbered and more platoons of the constabulary had to be rushed up as reinforcement. This made matters worse, for more Gaduns joined the lashkar and a regular battle started. I gathered from the Deputy Commissioner Hazara, Mr. Hidayatullah Khan that the situation was not satisfactory and that further reinforcements were on the way. I immediately left for Swabi and thence to Topi and collected a few elders who had dealings with the Gaduns and had influence over them such as Khan Muhammad Umar Khan of T opi, Khwaja
When the lashkar reached the area of “Astanadars”, the latter sought refuge with the constabulary. Since constabulary posts had been set up to give protection to these villages, which were now part of Hazara District, the Gaduns came into open conflict with the constabulary. Fighting started, but the constabulary was out-numbered and more platoons of the constabulary had to be rushed up as reinforcement. This made matters worse, for more Gaduns joined the lashkar and a regular battle started. I gathered from the Deputy Commissioner Hazara, Mr. Hidayatullah Khan that the situation was not satisfactory and that further reinforcements were on the way. I immediately left for Swabi and thence to Topi and collected a few elders who had dealings with the Gaduns and had influence over them such as Khan Muhammad Umar Khan of T opi, Khwaja
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Muhammad Khan of Maini and Malik Sohbat Khan of Swabi, and sent them to the Gadun country to persuade the Gadun elders to give up fighting and recall their lashkars. They went into the Gadun country, but returned unsuccessful after sometime, as they said that they could not contact any Gadun leader, all having gone with the lashkar to the Hazara border. The Governor Mr. I.I Chundrigar was at this time on a visit to Karachi. When I returned to Swabi, I was told that the Governor had returned to Peshawar and wanted to speak to me over the telephone. When I contacted him on the Swabi Police Station telephone, he wanted to know full details. I gave him a full account of the happenings together with the genesis of the trouble. He then asked me what action I recommended and I told him that if I got a few platoons of the frontier corps, we would march into Gadun country from our side of the border and that I was very hopeful that the moment the Gadun lashkar received the news of our march from this side and realized that their own homes were in danger, they would stop fighting on the Hazara border and scatter back into their villages. The Governor liked the suggestion and the next day, not only quite a sizeable force of the Frontier Corps arrived, but a battalion of the Army also arrived. The battalion commander was Col. Sahibdad, who seemed much cut up as he said that he had to fight his own people. I told him that I had never asked for the army to be sent and that, in any case, the army would not be involved. The Frontier corps were commanded by Col. Sadiqullah, but Brigadier Ahmad Jan Khan, the Inspector General himself was also with the force throughout and was incharge of general supervision and direction. The Frontier Corps held a camp a little outside Maini village (between Maini and Topi) and the Army were
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told to hold a camp a little away from the border and to come to the help of the frontier Corps only if and when they were requested to do so. As it happened, it never became necessary to move the army.
It was the month of December or January and it was better cold and we used to hold conferences every night with the Frontier Corps in one of the Corps trucks to decide on the action for the next day. I always accompanied the Frontier Corps during their marches. The first day we surrounded the largest Gadun village of Gandaf. We had expected resistance, but not a shot was fired, as there was hardly a fighting man available. It was correct that all had joined the Lashkar. We rounded up the few men of some importance that we found in the village and sent them and some of their animals to Swabi as hostages. This finished the 1st day’s operation.
The next day we again left the camp very early and marched to deal with villages further up. The same action was taken against these villages and again there was no resistance, we had with us an air liaison officer and an occasional aircraft flew over us, only to drop chocolates and cigarettes for the Frontier Corp Officers. Our advance further up necessitated our holding camps in the interior and with every march ahead we advanced our camp. In the meantime the Gadun Lashkar, having learnt of the advance of the Frontier Corps from this side had given up fighting on the Hazara border and retreated. They were chased by the constabulary under the command of Sardar Abdur Rashid Khan the Commandant. The Lashkar suffered a number of casualties. We continued our march on from this side as the Frontier Constabulary did from the other side,
It was the month of December or January and it was better cold and we used to hold conferences every night with the Frontier Corps in one of the Corps trucks to decide on the action for the next day. I always accompanied the Frontier Corps during their marches. The first day we surrounded the largest Gadun village of Gandaf. We had expected resistance, but not a shot was fired, as there was hardly a fighting man available. It was correct that all had joined the Lashkar. We rounded up the few men of some importance that we found in the village and sent them and some of their animals to Swabi as hostages. This finished the 1st day’s operation.
The next day we again left the camp very early and marched to deal with villages further up. The same action was taken against these villages and again there was no resistance, we had with us an air liaison officer and an occasional aircraft flew over us, only to drop chocolates and cigarettes for the Frontier Corp Officers. Our advance further up necessitated our holding camps in the interior and with every march ahead we advanced our camp. In the meantime the Gadun Lashkar, having learnt of the advance of the Frontier Corps from this side had given up fighting on the Hazara border and retreated. They were chased by the constabulary under the command of Sardar Abdur Rashid Khan the Commandant. The Lashkar suffered a number of casualties. We continued our march on from this side as the Frontier Constabulary did from the other side,
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until we met a little beyond Dewel village and Shook hands. The Lashkar disappeared and the back of the resistance was completely broken. At strategic points camps were established and the operation was over. The army returned to Headquarters without getting directly involved.
We used to be called to periodical meetings with the Governor and had a final meeting with him at the close of the operation. The Governor was very happy, but he had no word of thanks, either verbally or in writing, for me or any officer of the Frontier Crops and Frontier Constabulary. Even now, after the lapse of so many years whenever I meet those Frontier Corps Officers (who have all retired) we cannot help mentioning how Mr. Chundrigar had failed to realize that a word of thanks on such occasions was a normal courtesy which his British predecessors had never failed to extend. I personally never felt that I should have been thanked: the Governor was satisfied and that was enough. After the operations were over, the Frontier Constabulary was permanently stationed in the middle of the Gadun country and their camp was connected with Mardan district by a road, which was constructed by the Constabulary themselves. I and the Deputy Commissioner, Hazara held a joint Jirga of the Gaduns and “Astanadars” and determined their future relationship and the extent of the ownership rights of the Gaduns. I have already said that some Gadun villages had agreed to the merger of their villages before the operations had started: after the operations were over the rest of the Gadun villages also applied for merger one by one now the whole Gadun area is part of Mardan District.
We used to be called to periodical meetings with the Governor and had a final meeting with him at the close of the operation. The Governor was very happy, but he had no word of thanks, either verbally or in writing, for me or any officer of the Frontier Crops and Frontier Constabulary. Even now, after the lapse of so many years whenever I meet those Frontier Corps Officers (who have all retired) we cannot help mentioning how Mr. Chundrigar had failed to realize that a word of thanks on such occasions was a normal courtesy which his British predecessors had never failed to extend. I personally never felt that I should have been thanked: the Governor was satisfied and that was enough. After the operations were over, the Frontier Constabulary was permanently stationed in the middle of the Gadun country and their camp was connected with Mardan district by a road, which was constructed by the Constabulary themselves. I and the Deputy Commissioner, Hazara held a joint Jirga of the Gaduns and “Astanadars” and determined their future relationship and the extent of the ownership rights of the Gaduns. I have already said that some Gadun villages had agreed to the merger of their villages before the operations had started: after the operations were over the rest of the Gadun villages also applied for merger one by one now the whole Gadun area is part of Mardan District.
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Mr. I.I Chundrigar, Governor, came on a detailed tour of Mardan District where he spent two nights. This gave me an opportunity to see him from close quarters. I found him a very nice man to deal with and a man who had a keen sense of justice. Probably this tour was undertaken to have first hand knowledge of the Mardan District and to pass on his knowledge to his successor as he was soon to leave the province. Mardan was politically a very important District, it having at one time remained the hot bed of the Red Shirt movement. It appeared that the District generally had very little of Red Shirt activity left in it as it had now become a predominantly Muslim League District. Mr. Chundrigar had fallen out with Khan Abdul Qayum Khan, Chief Minister on some political matters and the Chief Minister publicly reviled him. It appears that Mr. Chundrigar had himself asked for transfer and was soon transferred and posted as Governor of the Punjab. He was succeeded by Khwaja Shahab-ud-Din as Governor NWFP. Khwaja Shahb-ud-Din appointed me as Political Secretary to the Governor and in April, 1952 I took charge of my new post, having served in Mardan for about 21⁄2 years. Political Secretary meant Secretary dealing with tribal matters.”
As per official record maintained in File No. 60/ 23-Political-Sub-Head Gadoon Lashkar, in Abbottabad District Record Office, Gadoon Lashkar attacked on villages Gabassani and Chanai at mid night of 13th and 14th December 1950.
Commenting on the merger of gadun area with the district mardan,
As per official record maintained in File No. 60/ 23-Political-Sub-Head Gadoon Lashkar, in Abbottabad District Record Office, Gadoon Lashkar attacked on villages Gabassani and Chanai at mid night of 13th and 14th December 1950.
Commenting on the merger of gadun area with the district mardan,
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