Katlang
| Katlang | |
|---|---|
| Country | Pakistan |
| province | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, |
| District | Mardan |
Katlang is a tehsil of Mardan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is situated about 19 km north of Mardan, bordering with District Buner and Malakand. It is surrounded by canals in west and north. Katlang has a busy market with most of the facilities available. Katlang fair, held on Friday, is very popular among the residents of Katlang and the surroundings. Katlang has a government higher secondary school, a degree college and multiple other private schools and colleges. The union councils of Katlang Tehsil are Katlang I, Katlang II, Jamal Ghari, Sawal Dher, Katti Ghari, Dheri Lekpanni, Shamozai, Babuzai, Kohi Barmol, Peepal, Allo, Qasami and Baizo Kharkai. There are different groups of pashtun tribes in katlang. Group of tribes include Yusufzai, Ghurghakhti, Kakar, Uthmakhel, Mahmoti, Fatah Khel (Khattak),Katti Khel, Awankhel, Babar Khel, Barress and others.[1] Till 2002 Katlang had One provincial Assembly seat called PF 21, In party-based election held in 1988 this seat won by Munwaar Khan of Katlang and won again in 1990. After that It became a permanent seat of ANP till 1997. Today Katlang is divided in two constituencies, PK 28 and 29.
PK 29 constituency consists of union councils Katlang 1 and 11, Kati Garhi, Jamal Garhi, Sawal Dher and five union councils of Sodham Rustum. Mahmoti tribe is the largest tribe in union councils Katlang 1 and 11. Mostly Katlang bazar and its surrounding area belongs to Mahmoti tribe. Mahmoti tribe is considered to be the original inhabitant of Katlang Tehsil. All other tribes are considered to be migrated to Katlang from other parts of KPK. Mahmoti tribe is also considered to be the descendants of great warrior and leader Mahmud of Ghazni of Afghanistan. Khan Bahadur Mohammad Akbar Khan of Katlang is considered to be the first chief of Mahmoti tribe. It is believed that the Upper Swat Canal was dug by Khan Bahadur Mohammad Akbar Khan to irrigate the lands of Katlang. Due to this canal, now the land of Katlang is an irrigated land giving flourishing crops to the people of the area.
Politics
In Khan Bahadur Mohammad Akbar Khan's children one named Chairman Motabar Khan Of Shero Mashal Khan was a prominent political figure in President Ayub Khan's era in the 1960s. After his death, He was followed by Late Yarqand Khan in leading the Mahmoti tribe. Nowadays Motabar Khan and Yraqand Khan's nephew and great grandson of Khan Bahadur Mohammad Akbar Khan named Fazle Raziq Khan s/o late Haji Muqadar Khan of Shero Mashal Khan Kalley is a political figure of Katlang. He is also a leader of PML (N) and contested the last general election (May 2013) on Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz ticket. Fazle Raziq Khan is also senior vice president of the Islahi Jirga Mardan.
Muhammad Iqbal khan of Dheri was previously elected from pk-28 and then JUI-F candidate Akhtar ali. Recently, Gohar shaha Bacha of ANP is member provincial assembly from pk-28. Rahimullah Yousafzai belongs to shamozai union council of katlang. Similarly khudaye-khidmatghar Madad Khan of Katlang was a Pashtun nationalist from union council Dheri. Principal (R) Qazi Aslam khan, ex-candidate NA-10 belongs to Katlang who is a renowned reformer, social worker and educationist.
The people of Katlang are generally conservative but they are humanist. The people of Katlang are friendly and accomodative. It is believed that people belonging to different sects and religions lived happily in this area before partition. Pushtoon's centuries old traditions and culture can be seen in the far and wide villages of Katlang. One such great tradition of Pashtun culture is Hujra which still exists here in its full swing.
Katlang Topaz
According to an estimate, there are 09 million carats of pink topaz in Katlang, Mardan.Though some believe Katlang's topaz is equivalent to its Brazilian variety in standard, but many rate it of higher quality. βThe Katlang topaz is simply matchless in beauty, weight, hardness and shine. It is as hard as diamond, says a local gem expert. According to him, the Mingora emerald and Katlang topaz can fetch prices up to Rs20,000 per carat.Their prices increase with their weight and beauty. He says that at Katlang topaz of the quality of sapphire has also been found.[2]
Khongi Bridge
Constructed by the British government in 1909,through this bridge the water of swat river passes and enters to tonal and reaches to rustum.A 4 feet pavement is provided at each side of the bridge on which the people of the local place pass through motor bike, or cycle easily without any hesitation and below this bridge a road is also passes from village landishah to zorr matta (old matta) along with small khwar.[3]