KHANS OF SHABQADAR TAPPA DOABA, DISTRICT CHARSADDA
King Behlol Khan Lodi (died 1489) of Afghanistan allotted a Jagir of Tappa Doaba (35 kandis/ villages ) to Afghan family known as “Behlol Khel” in District Charsadda in lieu of military services and collection of land revenue. The elders of this family remain Arbab of Doaba till 1849 and were called ” Khans of Shabqadar ” after 1876 Settlement by British Empire. The “Behlol Khel” family originally belongs to Ghazni and the ancestors of this family participated in the Battle of Peshawar fought in November 1001 between the Ghaznavid army of Sultan Mahmud bin Sebuktigin (Mahmud of Ghazni) and the Hindu Shahi army of Jayapala, near Peshawar.
Arbarb of Doaba participated in the Battle took place on 8th May 1758 between Maratha Empire and the Durrani rulers of Afghanistan. The Marathas were victorious and Peshawar was captured. After being defeated , Durrani rulers of Khyber Pukhtunkwala Jahan Khan and Timur Shah Durrani fled to Afghanistan. Keeping in view the location and nature of Afghan reaction, the Maratha and later on the Sikh rulers maintained the status qou and did not interfere in the lands or Jagir Arbabs of Tapa Doaba .
The Ibrahim khan , Muhabbat Khan, Rehmat khan and Ashraf khan were appointed as Arbabs from time to time by the Afghan Kings . After the death of Ashraf khan, his elder son Sikander khan was appointed as Arbab by King Zaman Shah Durrani (c. 1770 – 1844) in 1795 , but he killed his younger brother Ghulam Khan . His elder son was not recommended as Arbab. After the death of Sikander Khan ,the King Mahmud Shah Durrani (1769 – 1829) appointed Huner Khan as Arbab of Doaba. Huner khan had six sons his third son Abdullah Khan succeed him after his death as Arbab of the Doaba in 1840. After the surrender of the Sikh army, Major George Lawrence (1804 –1884) was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Peshawar in April 1849. Arbab Abdullah khan was directed to send men and cavalry for a military operation in Baezai tapa of the Yusafzai sub-division to punish some refractory Utman Khel landholders and for military campaign in Swat. Abdullah khan refused and his Jagir of Tapa Doaba was confisticated and he went to Afghanistan along with his sons. Later on he was killed in action in the capture of Pallee, Swat fighting against British army under the command of General Bradshaw.
The law and order situation in Doaba and adjacent areas deteriorated and day light robberies and forced entry in houses become order of the day. The Deputy Commissioner of Peshawar Captain Munrow (1863-1865) through a a Jirga called the sons of Abdullah Khan from Afghanistan and restore a faction of Jagir in Mouza Shabqadar ,while the rest of the land was alloted to others notables of Doaba and tenants of the area as Jagirs and Mowajbs with sole proprietary rights. Habib ullah khan and Amir Muhammad khan ( sons of Arbab Abdullah Khan) were appointed as Rasilder and Lambarder of Mouzza Shabqadar in 1863. Habib ullah Khan resigned in 1870 due to personal reasons .
Haji Abdul Ghani khan, Mukraram khan ex-MNA, Hameed Khan ex-MNA, Rehmatullah ex-MPA , Sadique Khan, Azam khan and Idrees Azam are the well known personalities of this family.
Mukram khan ( 1905 -1986) was the most prominent personality of “Behlol Khel” family , he was an old fighter for India’s independence, joined Congress to oppose British rule . He left Congress on Pakistan issue worked for Muslim league and Pakistan, arrested during Muslim League agitation. He was the was President of the Provincial Muslim League,West Pakistan and remained active member of Reorganistion Committee of Muslim League; donated 80 kanal of land for a Govt High School Subhan khwar Shabqadar and 475 kanal land for establishment of Government College Yakka Ghund and civil colony in Mohmand agency free of cost for development of tribal people. References: 1. Tarek- e -Peshawar, Munshi Gopal Das Koh-e Noor Press, Lahore,1878. 2. Regular Settlement of Peshawar district Capt AG Hastings, Central Jail Press Lahore, 1878 3. Gazetter of Peshawar district 1870 & 1874, F. Cunningham,Punjab Government, Lahore . 4. Gazetter of Peshawar district 1897-98, Punjab Government, Lahore 1898. 5. Translation of the Tarikh-i-Sultan Mahmud-i-Ghazvani ,Captain G. Roos-Keppel, Qazi Abdul Ghani Khan , Anglo-Sanskrit Press. (1906). . 6. Biographical Encyclopedia of Members Divisional councils West Pakistan 1965 pages-277-278 7. Tappa Doaba consisted of 35 kandis/villages (1) Matta Moghal Khel; (2) Kotak Tarnab; (3) Hasnzai ; (4) Bela; (5) Shabkadar ;(6) Sutmara; (7) Mandezai; (8) Mathra; (9) Sarikh; (10) Marozaf; (11)Daulatpurah ; (12) Kharki ; (13) Nahakki ; (14) Ambadher. ; ( 1 5) Chikkar ; (16) Yaghi-band-bala ; (17) Yaghi band Miana ; (18) Yaghi-band payan;(19)Batgiram; (20) Mahazara ; (21) Tarkha; (22j Haryana; (23)Sandasar ;,(24) Bakiyanah ; (25) Ghurumbak ; (26) Sarwani ; (27) Dlieri ;(28) Gonda; (29) Sokhta; (30) Nasratzai ; (31) Kattozai, and a part of Kangra Hamlets are :(I) Kiblai ; (2) Shankargarh ; (3) Marzai; (4) Dheri'Bauda Mathra ;(5) Sadr-garhi (6) Sliahi Kulali.
8. The lands of Arbab of Daoba were allotted to Sikander Khan of Matta Mughal Khel/ Kotak Tarab , Sultan Muhammad Akhundzada Mandura , Ghulam Habib Shah of Karyanah / Koram Bela , Halim zai Mohmands village Panjpao, Ahmad Sher of Panjpao, Abdul Rehman of Abazai ,Khushab khan of Ambadher, Pir Muhammad Khan of Matta Moghal Khel, Akram Mian of Kangra, Dilawar Khan of Sarikh and Mallik Mozaffar of Nahakki for services rendered in 1857& 1869 or other political considerations through Regular Settlement of Peshawar District in 1876.