Loni (Pashtun tribe)


Luni is one of the largest branch of Durrani tribe of Pashtuns mainly living in Pakistan including in the town of Luni and
Loralai districts of Balochistan province of Pakistan. Some of Luni families are also living in Quetta and other areas of Balochistan, Pakistan. Luni tribe use 'Sardar' title at the beginning of their names. to refer to their putative part-descent from the Sadozai clan of King Ahmad Shah Durrani.

Population

Loni had a population of 982,435. Out of which males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Luni has an average literacy rate of 23%, lower than the national average of 35%.

History

Luni is one of the largest branch of Sadozai clan of Durrani Pashtuns of Balochistan, Pakistan.
In Pashtun genealogy, tribes or subtribes are said to be the descendants of a common ancestor. For instance, Sadozai tribesmen are said to be the progeny of Abdali, whose lineage can be traced directly to Qais Abdur Rashid, the legendary founder of the Pashtuns.
The Luni trace their line back to an actual historical figure, Sado, who was ancestor of Sadozai clan and he was also made chief of the some 12,000 Durrani families living about Kandahar. He aligned himself politically with the Safavid ruler Shah 'Abbas I, who named him the "lord of the Afghans" and charged with securing the Herat-Kandahar road. He also helped the Safavid ruler to retake Kandahar in 1622, for in 1595 it had fallen into Mughal hands. Sadozai families which moved to Mang and Rawalakot tehsils of Poonch district of Kashmir region, were desendants of Jassi Khan of Ghazni, and his troops, an warrior who invaded Kashmir, some centuries ago and he was also the person who was later given the name of Sudhan by locals of Kashmir region.

Relation to other castes

The close relatives of the Luni tribe amongst other Pashtun tribes are Dotani, Gulfarz, Jaffar, Shirani, Sadozai, Durrani, Sudhan.

Notable members