Batkhela

Batkhela (Pashto: بټ خيله‎, Urdu: بٹ خیلہ‎) is the main tehsil and capital ofMalakand District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. According to the 1998 census, the population of Batkhela is 38,222,^[1] and it is estimated to be 39,703 according to the World Gazetteer.^[2] Batkhela is a popular business city inKhyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This beautiful valley is covered by tall hills from all sides and there are many fast flowing rivers which are contribution to its wonderful landscape. One water canal that pours into a small dam in Jaban area is main source of electricity production.

Batkhela General Civil Headquarters Hospital is main hospital of the district Malakand. Batkhela main bazaar is more than 2 kilometres long; there are no intersections (junctions) so no traffic lights. Therefore it is the longest bazaar in Pakistan that has no traffic lights or junctions (intersections) on it

History 

Etymology

During the Ashoka and Kanishka Empires Batkhela was ruled by a leader named Butt hence city has given the name Batkhela.

Early history 

When Mahmud of Ghazni (997–1030) was attacking India against the Hindus, during this time one of his army leader Pir Khushal assailed Batkhela, during the course of this assault most of his soldiers were sunk in big marsh at a place called Ghelai in Batkhela. However, soldiers of his army that survived have preferred to stay in this region. They have not only changed the culture and customs of the local inhabitants but also exert a strong influence on them to make them convert to the religion of Islam.

Batkhela water canal alongside the main G.T. road (N45)

Early in 17th century (between 1500-1515 AD)an Afghan tribe Yusufzai (YusufzaiPathan) invaded Swat region^[5] under the leadership of Malik Ahmad Khan, during this period Batkhela was part of Swat valley. At the time Swat was ruled by a ruler named Raees andSwati tribe was permanent inhabitant here. After the invasion most of Swati tribe’s men quit this area and escaped to Hazararegion. It gives Yusufzai an opportunity to settle here permanently. Thana (part of Batkhela tehsil) was their administrative headquarters.

In the beginning three main family classes of Yusufzaitribe were settled in Batkhela (Husain Khel, Ibrahim Khel and Nazrali Khel). Husain Khel and Nazrali Khel were further subdivided, Nazrali Khel into Maday Khel and Babu Khel, while Husain Khel into Omer Khel and Balay Khel.

In March 1895 the British Empire invaded this region including Batkhela. Malak Mir Azam Khan of Ibrahim Khel was leading the army of Batkhela. A new political agency for Dir, Swat andChitral was established.^[6] The first officer to be placed in charge of the new Malakand Agency was Major Harold Arthur Deane(1854–1908),^{[7][8][9][10][11]} later on 9 November 1901 Lieutenant Colonel Sir Harold Arthur Deane also became the first Chief Commissioner on the formation of the North-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).^{[8][10][11][12][13]} Whose dexterous dialogue had been influential in obtaining the release of Lieutenants S.M. Edwardes and J.S. Fowler after both had been perfidiously captured by Mahomed Isa at Reshun, Chitral.^[6] Even people are unaware of his contributions to this region however the popular Deane’s Hotel (Now Deane’s Plaza) in Peshawar always brings his name to mind.^[11]

Batkhela Water Canal alongside N45

This year when Batkhela was stormed by the 45th Sikhs after a fierce resistance Lieut.-Colonel McRae was the very first British army personnel to enter Batkhela.^[14] Before 1895 Batkhela was invaded by different outsiders including Khan of Dir Rahmatullah Khan in 1869 and Wali-i-Dir/Nawab Muhammad Umara Khan as well as Swatis. On capturing Malakand Agency British army have decided to prevent this area permanently from these outside aggressions. The British rulers declare this area as ‘Malakand Protected Area’ (same as present) and so they prepared a police force called Malakand Levies.

Between 1895 and 1912 British made huge impact on developmental works and infrastructure. Many main contributions are still telling the story of their successful governance. They build roads (Batkhela to Chakdara), raised Chakdara and Malakand Ports, set up Levies posts all over Malakand Agency, dug Upper Swat Canal and The Benton Tunnel (locally known as Tandail) and construct Headwork’s scheme at Batkhela, Churchill Picket and Jabban Power House. The most important system of the Amadara (part of Batkhela) Irrigation Scheme which was completed 1912, is still irrigating a vast land of Sama Tehsil, Mardan and Sawabi Districts and Chakdara area.

The British was ruling this area till the independence of Pakistan 14 August 1947. All matters of the Tribal system was settled through ‘Jirga System’. The Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) system or status was established in 1974 here. Furthermore, regular laws prevailing and the settle laws of district were also extended. Under the FCR Political Agent exercised his powers as a supreme authority while regular courts were established (Civil & Crime courts) after the year 1974.

Demography

At the time of the Pakistan Census 1998, according to the World Gazetteer, Batkhela had a total resident population of 39,703