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INTRODUCTION
The administrative setup of the tribal area is looked after by the district
coordination officer Tank district. It is known as Bhittani Area. As a whole it
is located between 32˚-13’ and 32˚40’ and 32˚40’ north latitudes and 70˚-20˚ and
70˚36˚ east latitudes. It is bounded on the north, south and west by South
Waziristan agency and on the north-east by Lakki Marwat district and on the
south-east by Tank district. Its total area is 1,221 square kilometers. The
total population of the area was 27,216 in 1998. There are no urban localities
in the area. There were 13 villages in 1998.
PHYSICAL FEATURES
It is mostly covered by the dry Bhittani hills, gradually sloping from
north-west towards south-east. The highest point of these hills is 1,943 meters
above the sea level, located near the northern border on the watershed of Zia
plaiwan stream. Almost all the streams
which
originate from this area are seasonal and normally end up in arid plains of D.I.
Khan.
WEATHER
It experiences hot summers and cold winters. Summer season starts in April and
continues till October. June, July and August are the hottest months. Winter
season starts in November and lasts till March December, January and February
are the coldest months.
RACE AND TRIBES
The Bhittanis, as evident from their name, claim decent from Baitan, the third
son of Qais, the founder, according to one doctrine, of the Pukhtoon race. They
also inhibit F.R. D.I. Khan and F.R. Bannu, mostly the mountainous area on the
borders of Tank and Bannu from the Gabbar mountain in the north to the Gomal
valley in the south.
This
tribe is divided in three sections: Tattao- at Jandola and Siraghar in the Dera
Ismail Khan and some adjoining areas; Dhanna- on the Gabbar mountain and in the
Bannu F.R.; Waraspun- inhibinting the F.R. Dera Ismail Khan and some adjoining
valleys.
According to traditions, they
were first living in Koh-i-Sulaiman, but the Ghilzais drove them out of their
homeland and they settled where they are now. During the reign of Afghan Sultans
of Delhi they enjoyed prestigious positions, and a large number of them used to
serve in the Sultanate’s army.
CUSTOM AND HABITS
The bhittanis are of medium weight, wiry and active. They have no common chief.
The proverbial wit of the country side expresses their innocence and
thriftlessness.” The drum was beating in the plains and the Bhittanis were
dancing on the hills”, “A hundered Bhittanis eat a hundered Sheep” etc. in
physique they closely resemble Mahsuds. They have discarded the dress of their
neighbors of the Waziristan highlands for the dress of the plains. It is very
difficult to understand their local dialect.
OCCUPATIONS
Most of the Bhittanis tribesmen are serving in various government departments or
in private firms while a few people of the area are farmers, using old
agricultural methods.
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