The Chagharzais or Chagarzais are a division of the Malaizai clan of the

Yousafzai The Yusufzai or Yousafzai (, ), also referred to as the Esapzai (, ), or Yusufzai Afghans historically, are one of the largest tribes of Pashtuns. They are natively based in the northern part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ( Malakand, Dir, Swat, Shangl ...

tribe. Colonel Harold Carmichael Wylly, 1858–1932, a British military historian described these people in the following words:

Origin

Chagharzais are the descendants of Chaghar or Chagar (Chagharzai), the son of Malay (Malaizai) who was one of the sons of Yousaf (

). They are divided into following sub-divisions:

Sections and sub-sections (Khels)

The three Chagarzai sub-divisions are further divided into following Sections and Sub-sections:

Demographics

The Chagharzais occupy the country on either side of the

Indus River The Indus ( ) is a transboundary river of Asia and a trans-Himalayas, Himalayan river of South Asia, South and Central Asia. The river rises in mountain springs northeast of Mount Kailash in the Western Tibet region of China, flows northw ...

. They are located on the western slopes of Tor Ghar (Black Mountain), to the north of the

Akazai Akazai is a Pakhtoon (or Pashtoon; Pashtun) tribe hailing from northern Pakistan. Specifically, it is a subdivision of the Isazai clan within the larger Yousafzai tribe. The Yousafzai tribe is widely recognized as one of the most influential, ...

s. The southern boundary of the Chagarzais is contiguous with that of the

s. It follows the spur of the Tor Ghar running from the Machai Sar (peak) to the Indus bank — the southern face of the spur belonging to the Akazais and the northern to the Chagarzais. On the west and north the Indus forms the boundary, while on the east the Chagarzais are bounded by the territory of the Deshiwals and of the Pariari Saiyids.

Culture and traditions

Chagharzais have maintained their cultural identity and individuality. They lead their lives strictly in accordance with code of ethics of ''

Pashtunwali Pashtunwali (), also known as Pakhtunwali and Afghaniyat, is the traditional lifestyle or a code of honour and tribal code of the Pashtuns, Pashtun people, from Afghanistan and Pakistan, by which they live. Many scholars widely have interpreted it ...

'' which comprises Manliness, Goodness, Gallantry, Loyalty and Modesty. Chagharzais maintain the Pashtun customs of ''

Jirga A jirga (, ''jərga'') is an assembly of leaders that makes decisions by consensus according to Pashtunwali, the Pashtun social code. It is conducted in order to settle disputes among the Pashtuns, but also by members of other ethnic groups who ...

'' (consultative assembly), ''

Nanawati Nənawā́te (, "sanctuary") is a tenet of the Pashtunwali code of the Pashtun people. It allows a beleaguered person to enter the house of any other person and make a request of him which cannot be refused, even at the cost of the host's own life ...

'' (delegation pleading guilty), '' Hujhra'' (large drawing room) and '' Melmastya'' (hospitality).

Recent developments

On 28 January 2011, Tor Ghar became the 25th District of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa.Tor Ghar: Kala Dhaka becomes 25th K-P district
The Express Tribune. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011. Judba is the District Headquarters of this newly born district. The three Tehsils (subdivision) of this district are; Judba, Kandar Hassanzai and Mada Khel. Most of the Chagharzai areas come under the Judba tehsil.

References

{{Pashtun tribes Yusufzai Pashtun tribes