Khuzdar or Khozdar (Urdu: خضدار ) is a town located in Khuzdar District in Balochistan, Pakistan. Khuzdar is the capital of Khuzdar District, which was created on 1 March 1974. Previously, Khuzdar was part of Kalat District. Khuzdar was the capital of the Brahui kingdom of Makran.
In the early 17th Century it was part of the Jhalawan kingdom, but it soon fell under the Kingdom of Kalat, where it remained until a series of revolts during the reign of Khudadad Khan (1857-1893). By 1896, after Khudadad's death, the authority of Kalat was restored.
Under it treaty with Kalat, the British appointed a political agent at Khuzdar in 1903. British assistance continued until 1947, after which the area joined Pakistan, and became part of the Baluchistan States Union. When the Baluchistan States Union became Kalat Division, Khuzdar was established as the divisional headquarters. The divisional administration of Pakistan ended in 2000. The Divisional administration again established as the Divisional headquarters in June 2009 by Pakistan Peoples Party Government.
Khuzdar, known as the heart of Balochistan, is situated on National Highway linking Pakistan, Iran and Turkey.
It is at a distance of about 400 kms from Karachi and 300 kms from Quetta, both of them being main cities of the country. The city is facilitated with an Airport, near the university. The former college, now university is constructed on the foot-hills and is spread over an area of 200 acres. The clean and calm environment makes the university an ideal place for academic and research activities.
Khuzdar is at the apex of a narrow valley at an elevation of 1,237 m (4.000 feet).
Over 99% of the people of the area are Muslims. The population of Khuzdar district is estimated to be over 525,000 in 2005. The major tribes in the district are Bizenjo,Kurd, Mardoi, Jattak, Hasni, Zehri, Mengal, Zarakzai. There are also large number of Hazaras who have adopted Pakistani nationality and made Khuzdar their permanent home.
The Kurds are the most ancient residents of Khuzdar city and they were gifted the majority of the land of city Khuzdar (the district head quarter of Khuzdar district) after defeating the cruel ruler of time. At initial time there were only two tribes in Khuzdar city KURD and GAZGI (subtribe of mengal). Then by the passage of time other tribes settled.
Over 50,000 security personnel have been deployed in Balochistan to maintain peace during local government elections in the province scheduled for Saturday.
ReplyDeleteBriefing media personnel here on Thursday, Col Tariq of Southern Command headquarters said a security plan had been finalised and the deployment of personnel across the province had been completed. He said the deployment process began on Dec 1.
Col Tariq said army personnel played an important role in dispatching polling materials to 32 districts of the province and for the purpose two helicopters were used.
He said security arrangements were made after taking into account all security threats, including militants’ warnings. At least nine districts of the province have been declared sensitive for which special arrangements are being made.
He said personnel of police, Frontier Corps and Levies Force had been deployed at polling stations while army troops would be present in every district to deal with any untoward situation.
Under the plan, he added, 11 security personnel would be available for each ‘very sensitive’ polling station and nine for ‘sensitive’ polling station.
He said helicopters and small aircraft would be available for the support of security personnel in all the six divisional headquarters.
Among very sensitive districts are Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar, Dera Bugti-Kohlu, Qila Abdullah, Washuk, Kharan and Panjgur.
Col Tariq said Kech district had also been declared sensitive, but majority of candidates in this district had been declared winner unopposed. However, he added, security personnel would patrol also all those areas where polling would not be held.
Col Tariq hoped that elections in the province would be held in peaceful manner.Meanwhile, Home Secretary of Balochistan Asad Gilani told media personnel that foolproof security would be provided to international observers visiting the province to monitor local government elections.
He said observers from European Union and other international organisations did not visit Balochistan to monitor general elections held in May this year due to security threats. But, they would monitor local government elections, he added.
The secretary said security arrangements for all 32 districts of the province had been finalised. He said 12,381 booths were being set up in 2,776 polling stations.