|
Population: According to the
1998 census of Pakistan the district had a population of 1,274,935 of which
20.45% were urban, The estimated population in 2008 was 1.58 million.The
city also had a significant Muhajir population. In fact, Attock city was
dominated by the immigrants from India but gradually their population has
dwindled and now they are a minority - mostly living in old quarters of
Attock city.Almost 50% of the population of this area are of Pukhtuns/(Pathans)
origin, who speak Hindko languageThe Khattar, Syed,
Paracha, Awans, Pathans, Bangashs, Gujjars, Rajput, Mughals and Shaikhs are
the main tribes of Attock District.[5] The main Rajput tribes are the Alpial,
Jodhra, Janjua Chauhan and Bhatti. The Chauhan of Khaur, the Alpial of
Chakri and Jodhra of Kamlial are important families in the district. The
main Tribe of Royal Barlas Mughal's is Gheba.The Gheba Sardars of kot Fateh
khan,Dhurnal,Malal,Dhari-Rai-Ditta, Shah-rai-saidullah are important
families in the District.The Pashtun, or as
they are referred to in the this region, as Pathans are found principally in
the Attock District and belongs to Qais Abdur Rashid(father of all pashtuns).
There are two Pathan settlements in that district, one in the south-west of
Pindigheb Tehsil at Makhad and in the Narrara hills , the other in the
Attock Tehsil, chiefly in the Chhachh illaqa.[6] In addition, there are also
a few scattered villages, in Rawalpindi District.The
Pindigheb Pathans are practically all Sagri Pathans, a branch of
the Bulaki Khattaks. The Babar family of Bhangi Khel Khattaks is also
represented in the Narara hills. Another branch of the Khattaks, the Jamal
Khel also have a presence in settlements near the town of Makhad.The
Attock Pathans are found in two parts of the tehsil, those of
Sarwala, and those of Chhachh. The Chhachh Pathans have very little in
common with the Sagri khattaks, as they are separated by the Kala Chita
mountains. The Chhachhies are also known as Chhachi (Pashtun). The Chhachh
have Hindko and pushto speaking community, and have much in common with the
Pashtun tribes settled in the neighbouring North West Frontier Provincem (NWFP).
Chhachh have pukhtun culture and peoples are following Pashtunwali code of
conduct strictly like in NWFP. Mostly pathans in chhachh came with Ghaznavi
from Afghanistan
|