Banuchi

The Bannuzai (Shitak/ Shitakzai) (Pashto: بنوڅي) or Banusi, Banuchi, Banisi originally Shitak Afghans. are a prominant Pashtun tribe which has the reputation of being one of the most warlike amongst the Afghan or Pashtun people. They inhabit Bannu,North Waziristan,Dera Ismail Khan and Kurram valley of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, with some members settled in Khost,Paktika,Paktia and Injil of Herat Afghanistan. Shitak was the name of their ancestor. Therefore, according to Afghan/Pashtun traditions, his descendants were called Shitak or Shitakzai, Zai means "son" in Pashto. However, it is more famous by its nicknames like Banuchi or Banusi and these people call themselves Banisi. These titles belonged to this tribe in relation to this region.The words Bannuzai, Banuchi, Banusi and Banisi is strickly used for these people because as they conquered Bannu they interchanged the word Bannu for their tribe i.e Shitak (Kevi & Surani) from there they were more famously known as Bannuzais, Banuchi etc.

Banisi بانيسي.بنیڅي بنوڅي
Afghan
Capt. Dr. Baghdad Khan Umerkhel in his hunting attire (Chief of Bannuzai's)
Ethnicity	Afghan
Location	Afghanistan, Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)
Descended from	Shitak
Parent tribe	Karlani
Language	Pashto
Religion	Islam

History

The Banuchis originally lived in the Shawal area, which lies partly in the present-day North Waziristan tribal agency of Pakistan and partly in the Paktika Province of Afghanistan. The Banuchi, as well as their cousin tribe the Dawars descend from the Shitak supertribe who were settled in Shawal. In the 14th century, the Wazir tribe of Pashtuns, who were living in Birmal in the west, migrated eastwards to the Shawal area and fell into dispute with the Shitaks (Banuchis and Dawars), and succeeded to oust the Shitaks northeastwards towards the land between the Tochi and Kurram rivers. Eventually, the Banuchi Shitaks migrated to the Bannu District, where the Pashtun tribes of the Mangal and the Hani, as well as the Khattak were already settled. The Banuchis first defeated and drove away the Mangals and the Hanis, then gradually pushed the Khattaks northwards to Kohat and Karak, and eventually captured and settled in Bannu District.

Banuchi tribal Jirga

Main article: Bannu Resolution

The jirga system of the Banuchi tribe is the most prestigous amongst the Pashtun tribes.Throughout the course of the history the most important jirgas of the Pashtun nation have been held in Bannu.

On 21 June 1947 in Bannu, a jirga was held by Pashtun leaders including Bacha Khan, his brother Chief Minister Dr Khan Sahib, the Khudai Khidmatgars, members of the Provincial Assembly, Mirzali Khan (Faqir of Ipi), and other tribal chiefs, just seven weeks before the Partition of India. The jirga declared the Bannu Resolution, which demanded that the Pashtuns be given a choice to have an independent state of Pashtunistan composing all Pashtun territories of British India, instead of being made to join either India or Pakistan. However, the British Raj refused to comply with the demand of this resolution, in response to which the Khudai Khidmatgars boycotted the 1947 North-West Frontier Province referendum for merging the province into Pakistan.

Battle of Bannu

Main article: Battle of Bannu

The Battle

Tara Chand had been exploiting the local Pashtun population by charging exorbitant taxes and committing various atrocities. In response, Malik Dilasa Khan, along with other Pashtun tribesmen, rose up against Tara Chand's rule and challenged him to a battle.

Malik Dilasa Khan and his followers managed to defeat Tara Chand's forces, leading to Jai Singh Atariwala death and the Bannuzai(Shitak) taking control of the region.

Aftermath

The 8,000 strong Sikh Invading army was repulsed and fled into Punjab. The Pashtuns/Afghans controlled the region until 1840, and the Sikh Empire was unable to obtain taxes from Malik Dilasa khan. This battle resulted in Bannuzai (Shitak) victory.

Subdivision Of Banuchi (Shetaks/Shetakzai/Shitak)

It is important to mention that the greater Shetak/Shitak clan includes the sons from his other two wives who are stepbrothers to Banuchis (Dawar, Tani, Haved and Zalem) as outlined in the table underneath.

Like other Pashtuns, Banuchi society is subdivided on patrilineal basis, each individual belongs to a Khel (section) a minor lineage and each Khel (section) than belongs to a major lineage. The purpose of the smaller khels (sections) is to identify genealogical lineages amongst themselves and major lineage (tribe) is to be identified by fellow Pashtuns and outsiders. Banuchis in total have many smaller Khels (Sections) that originate from the major lineage as outlined in the table underneath. The details of each original smaller Khel (section) is available in books, “Hayat-I-Afghani” and “Pashtana da tarikh pa Ranra Kshe”.

Shitak (Bannuzai) Genealogy

Main gates in Bannu city were named after some of the major clan names, Hinjal gate, Sukari gate, Miryan gate, Mandan gate and Haved gate. The tribal chief of Banuchis Capt. Dr Baghdad Khan belonged from the Umerkhel subtribe of Bannuzai(Shitak).

Major Banuchi Subtribes

There are two major divisions of the Banuchi, Kevis and Suranis, which are further divided as follows:

• Kevi

1. Miryan: Umar Khel, Neri, Mehboob, Barakzai, Mama Khel, Kakki, Nurar
2. Sami: Mandan, Issaki, Tappi, Sinawar(Sukari, Hinjel)

• Surani

1. Pohak: Khozak(Daud Shah, Mamesh Khel, Amandi)
2. Ghorzai, Mandha Khel, Hebak

There are many other subtribes but these are some of the major subtribes of the Banuchi(Shitaks).

Population

There are estimated 1,000,000 (1 Million) Banuchi (Shitaks) mostly in Bannu, Kurram and Waziristan agency and other parts of KPK and Pakistan.

Language

Banuchis speak with a local distinct Pashto (Baniswola) dialect which is closer to regional dialects (Dawar & Waziri).

Notable Banuchi(Shitak)

• Capt. Dr. Baghdad Khan, First Pashtun (MBBS) doctor of Bannu and neighbouring regions and a Banuchi Tribal Chief.
• Mir Mast Khan, tribal chief of the Banuchi tribe.
• Akbar zaman khan, The former darogha( in mughal monarch(the powerful local authorities. In some cases, they were in charge of factories. The darogas also had command over the police in rural areas).He belonged from paikhel,sabokhelMandan.His descentors includes( Younas Khan,Ali zaman, Sherzaman, Yousaf khang etc)

• Ghazi Dilasa Khan, Born 1777 AD, A famous warlord against the Sikh Khalsa Fauj and British
• Baz Muhammad Khan, Former Member of Senate of Pakistan, Former Provincial Minister for Health, Former Provincial Minister for Forest and Former Provincial Minister for Irrigation.
• Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Former President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan
• Abdul Hamid, Former Olympian and Ex Secretary General Pakistan Hockey Federation
• Dr Qibla Ayaz, chairman, Pakistan Council of Islamic Ideology
• Qazi Mohib, Former Olympian and Ex Captain Pakistan Hockey Team.
• Dost Muhammad Khan, Former Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan,
• Nasir Iqbal, International Squash Player
• Noor Wali Jan Lolai Ustaad (Saqib Barakzai) Renowned poet, Landlord, businessman and a Famous elder of pashtun councils ( Jirga's )
• Ghazi Sial, Renowned Poet and Pashto Folk Songs Writer
• Sadia Gul, International Squash Player
• Ajab Gul Surani, Landlord, businessman at Islamabad and Politician Pakatan Muslim League
• Abdul Rashid, Olympic field hockey player
• Akram khan Durrani Ex Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Federal minister and Opposition leader in Provincial assembly.