From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Awan (Urdu: اعوان), a South Asian Zamindar tribe, putatively of Arab origin, living predominantly in western and central parts of Punjab, Pakistan.

The Ferozsons Urdu-English Dictionary lists the Awans as a tribe whose name is of Arabic origin and means "assistant" or "helper"; this somewhat supports the traditional claim of the Awans vis-à-vis their origins. Because the majority of Awans subscribe to the belief that they are the descendants of the fourth Caliph, Ali (though the bulk of those belonging to the tribe are not Shias), a number adopt the title, Alvi, although not all of those who refer to themselves as Alvi are Awans.

Contents 1 Differing theories 2 History 3 Awans: past and present 4 Geographical distribution 5 Prominent Awans 5.1 Feudal Landowners 5.2 Government and Politics 5.3 Armed Forces 5.4 Business 5.5 Academia 5.6 Literature, Journalism and Art 5.7 Entertainment 5.8 Sport 6 References 7 See also

Other theories have been adduced by the Awans regarding their origins, but most of these hypotheses also point to the tribe being descended from Qutb Shah, who entered the Indian subcontinent as part of a military campaign (and traced his bloodline to Ali).

However, there are those who dispute that the Awans are of Arab origin; these include Alexander Cunningham, Harikishan Kaul and Arthur Brandreth. Cunningham looked upon the Awans as a Rajput clan, whereas Kaul was of the opinion that the tribe was of either Jat or Rajput origin, pointing to the fact that in Sanskrit, the term Awan means "defender" or "protector" and asserting that this title was awarded by surrounding tribes due to the Awans successfully defending their strongholds against aggression. Brandreth believed the Awans to be remnants of Bactrian Greeks. It should be noted that these theories were partly founded on grounds of phonetics, geographical considerations and observational coincidences, and remain conjecture having never been corroborated by the Awan tribe or neighbouring clans.

Conversely, there are also those who support the Awan claim to Arab ancestry. Amongst such names are those of H. A. Rose, Malik Fazal Dad Khan and Sabiha Shaheen. According to Rose not only are the Awans of Arabian origin, he also accepted that they are indeed the descendants of Qutb Shah. Tracing their lineage to Ali, in Rose's view, the Awans were Alvi Sayyids who assisted Sabuktageen in his Indian adventure, for which he bestowed the title of Awan on them, meaning "assistant". Malik Fazal Dad Khan has supported this theory but with some modifications. He also considers the Awans to be of Arabian origin and traces their lineage to Ali, but according to him, Abdullah Rasul Mirza was the remote ancestor of the Awans; in the eighth century, he was made a commander of the army of Ghaur by Caliph Harun al-Rashid, the title of Awan being conferred upon him, and his descendants consequently being called Awans. Sabiha Shaheen (who addressed this issue as part of her MA Thesis) deems this theory tenable. Furthermore, she states that Qutb Shah fled to the subcontinent along with a small group of people due to Mongol attacks and joined the court of Iltutmish. The majority of his descendants came to refer to themselves as Qutb Shahi Awans (and most Awans are able to trace their family trees to Qutb Shah).

The findings of the geneticist, S. Dorning, suggest that the Awans are ethnically distinct from Jats and Rajputs, thus negating theories that propose the Awan tribe originated from Jat or Rajput groups.The Awans have a unique distinction of being the only Punjabi tribe which has no adherents of Hinduism or Sikhism and is a totally Muslim tribe which adds weight to their claim of Arabian ancestry.

The Awans have a strong martial tradition and are renowned for their bravery and courage. They were prominent in the armies of the Slave Dynasty and the Khilji dynasty during the Delhi Sultanate period.^[1] Awans also held prominent military positions during the Mughal era. According to Denzil Ibbetson, the Awans may well have accompanied the forces of Babur and the Awans of Jalandhar, who claimed to have shifted from the Salt Range at the behest of one of the early Emperors of Delhi, were particularly notable for being in the imperial service at Delhi. In the early nineteenth century, one of the most powerful men in Delhi was Malik Durrab Khan Awan. Apparently ,serving in armies has been their oldest profession in light of their fearless nature.

The Awans were amongst those the British considered to be "martial races" (a designation created by officials of British India to describe "races" - peoples - that were thought to be naturally warlike and aggressive in battle and to possess qualities such as courage, loyalty, self-sufficiency, physical strength, resilience, orderliness and fighting tenacity and to be hard-working and adept at military strategy. The British recruited heavily from these "martial races" for service in the colonial army^[2]) and as such, formed an important part of the British Indian Army, serving with distinction during World Wars I and II. Awans formed part of the core Muslim group recruited by the British during the First and Second World Wars.^[3] Contemporary historians, namely Professor Ian Talbot and Professor Tan Tai Yong, have authored works that cite the Awans (amongst other tribes) as being looked upon as a martial race by not only the British, but neighbouring tribes as well.

The Pakistani military has always heavily recruited Awans and as is consistent with the past, the tribe continues to produce a considerable number of soldiers, many of whom today occupy many of the senior-most ranks of the Pakistani Army.^[4]

Awans in general enjoy a respected status in Pakistan. Many have played and continue to play, prominent roles in areas as varied as the military, business, politics and literature. On a rural level, Awans are respected as members of the Zamindar or landowning class.

Many Awan families to this day live on and cultivate land, which their ancestors have held for centuries. They often carry titles typical to Punjabis who own tracts of ancestral land such as Malik, Chaudhry and Khan, depending on the area they live in as they are now widely dispersed all over the Punjab, NWFP and parts of Sindh and Balochistan. Hence they speak the language of the region they are settled in now. The modern surname system often results in members of the same family with different surnames, some choosing their position as a surname i.e. Malik or Chaudhry, and some choosing their clan/tribe/family name of Awan.

As a result of census data collated during the era of the British Raj, the Awan tribe was invariably classified as being exclusively Muslim; contemporary census figures underline that this essentially remains the status quo. Pakistan is home to 4,579,000 members of the Awan tribe (all Muslim). ^{[5][not in citation given]} In India, 15,000 Awans have declared themselves to be Muslims (an insignificant number belonging the tribe, totalling sixty individuals, has declared itself to be Christian). Data does not exist to show that the tribe counts adherents of the Hindu and Sikh faiths amongst its ranks, a unique feature even amongst Punjabi tribes that are predominantly comprised of Muslims. ^[6]

The bulk of the Awan tribe is to be found in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Its population is concentrated in the districts of Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Khushab (particularly the Soon Valley), Mianwali (Awan tribes residing here are believed to have been the sole occupants of the Mianwali Salt Range for nearly six hundred years), Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, and Layyah and is also scattered throughout the rest of Punjab to where the Awans kept migrating as the hilly areas that they were originally settled in did not provide much employment opportunities , except for joining the Army. A number of Awan villages also exist next to Lahore along the Indo-Pak border where many Awans settled after migrating from East Punjab in 1947 following partition. Many Awans from East Punjab also migrated to and settled in Faisalabad. Many Awans, primarily from East Punjab, prefer writing Alvi or Alavis with their name to pronounce their ancestry from Ali ibn Talib,the son in law of the Prophet.

Tracts in regions such as Attock, Jhelum, Sargodha and Mianwali are so heavily populated by Awans that they have long been referred to as "Awankari". Pre-Partition, an Awankari existed in Jalandhar and in Awan Bara in Hoshiarpur. Though these areas are their ancestral homelands and many own farms and other property there, numerous Awans live in the major cities of Pakistan such as Lahore, (where a section of the Awan tribe has established a settlement, aptly named Awan Town), Islamabad, and Karachi.

The Awan tribe is also to be found in great numbers in the North-West Frontier Province, particularly in Hazara Division, Peshawer valley and the districts of Nowshera, Kohat, Abbottabad, Haripur, Manshera, Bannu and Swat. A smaller portion of the tribe resides in Azad Kashmir and to a lesser extent is also present in the Pakistani provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. In addition, Awans can also be found in Afghanistan and some parts of India.

• Malik Sultan Mehmood Khan , Attock (Waliye Sarwala).
• Nawabzada Malik Mohammad Asad Khan , Current Nawab of Kalabagh .
• Malik Ata Mohammad Khan , Landed feudal of Fateh Jang . Michael Palin interviewed him, whilst staying at his palace, Kot Fateh Khan, as part of the BBC series, Himalaya with Michael Palin)
• Malik Ghulam Mohammad Awan (Raees-e-Azam, Namal Valley)
• Malik Muzaffar Khan (Raees-e-Azam, Khabakki)
• The Sardars of Tamman (Currently headed by Sardar Mohammad Hayat Khan Tamman. Also see 'Government and Politics' below)
• Malik Muhammad Khanvez Awan from Chhajian Haripur

Khawaja Sheraz Ghafoor (Gujrat)

• Malik Amir Mohammad Khan (The Nawab of Kalabagh and Governor of West Pakistan, 1960-66).
• Air Marshal Nur Khan (Governor of West Pakistan, 1969-70. Also see 'Armed Forces' below)
• Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Awan ,(Founder member of the Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP. Former Senior Federal Minister - for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis - former Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, former Minister for Rehabilitation and also served as Media Adviser to the Prime Minister.
• Sardar Mohammad Hayat Khan Tamman . Served as Minister for Railwayswith President Ayub Khan. During Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s tenure as Prime Minister, he was a was a public affairs adviser)
• Sardar Mansoor Hayat Tamman(Member National Assembly during Nawaz Sharifs era)
• Dr. Asif Raza Awan Additional General Secretary, Muslim League Tehsil Bhalwal. Memebr; District Bait-ul-Mall Sargodha
• Sardar Maqsood Hayat Tamman (Nazim Chakwal District)
• Sardar Azmat Hayat Tamman( Member Provincial Assembly)
• M. Yaqoob Awan (Former Law Minister. Founded the Faisalabad branch of the PPP)
• Ayub Bukhsh Awan (Was the senior-most IP/PSP officer in Pakistan. Inspector-General of Police by the age of thirty-nine. Spent eight years as Director of the Intelligence Bureau with the status of Federal Secretary. Retired as Interior Secretary. Was awarded the Police Medal, Sitara-i-Khidmat, Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam and Sitara-i-Pakistan, as well as awards for gallantry in action. Also authored the widely-acclaimed, Balochistan: Historical and Political Processes)
• Malik Zahoor Ahmad (Former diplomat. Former Minister of Information at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C. Also see ('Academia' below)
• Dr. Babar Awan (Senator. PPP Finance Secretary)
• Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani (MPA PML from Abbottabad NWFP)
• Farrukh Mahmood Qazi Chairman Asian communities Councel of Canada.
• Ghulam Sarwar Khan (Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis)
• Muhammad Arif Anees Malik, Deputy Commissioner for Income Tax. Born in Soan Sakesar, author of five books on literature, management, leadership, English language, and motivation.
• Malik Faqir Hussain Awan (Ex Deputy Collector Irrigation, Punjab)
• Muhammad Javaid Iqbal Awan (Ex DC Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur, Seceretary Punjab Education, Auqaf & Health Departments, Punjab. Presently Seceretary Agriculture, Baluchistan)
• Malik Mumtaz Awan (Controller Exam. Gujranwala Board)
• Hamidullah Malik (Accountant Member Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Pakistan(retd.))
• Tahir Akhtar Malik (MPA(Member of Provincial Assembly), president PPP sialkot)
• Asif Hayat Malik (Federal Secretary for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis)
• Major Tahir Iqbal (Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas - KANA)
• General Abdul Majeed Malik (Former Federal Minister for KANA. Also see 'Armed Forces' below)
• Sumaira Malik (Federal Minister for Women Development and Youth Affairs)
• Malik Naeem Khan Awan (Former Federal Minster for Commerce, former Federal Minister for Communication, former Federal Minister for Health and former Federal Minister for Science and Technology)
• Sabir Hussain Awan (Member of the National Assembly - MNA - Peshawar)
• Qari Fazal-ul-Rehman Alvi (MNA - Peshawar)
• Malik Mahmood-ul-Hassan Awan (MNA)
• Malik Karam Bakhsh Awan (Ex-MNA)
• Malik Umer Aslam Awan (Ex-MNA)
• Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan (Parliamentary Secretary Cabinet Division)
• Malik Tahir Sarfraz Awan (Federal Joint Secretary (IPC/NDC/Complaint Wing - Cabinet Division)
• Malik Mushtaq Ahmed Awan (Former Provincial Minister. PPP Federal Council Member, Punjab)
• Khawaja Mohammad Awan (PPP Federal Council Member, Sindh)
• Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum (Former High Court Judge. Between 1998 and 2000, headed the cricket match-fixing inquiry in Pakistan)
• Justice Ejaz Hussain Awan (Additional District and Sessions Judge, Lahore)
• Justice Malik Mohammad Akram Awan (Additional District and Sessions Judge, Chakwal)
• Zafar Iqbal Awan (Additional Advocate General, Lahore)
• Malik Nazir Ahmed Awan (President Kissan Wing, PPP Punjab, Chairman of the Cantonment Board Traders’ Organisation of Pakistan, President Awan Welfare Society)
• Mohammad Rafique Awan (Vice President Pakistan Muslim League N/PML-N)
• Malik Hanif Awan (President, PML-N, Gujrat district)
• Mohammad Hanif Awan (PPP Azad Jammu and Kashmir – PPPAJK - legislator)
• Zia Ahmed Awan (President of Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid - LHRLA)
• Shahadat Awan (President of the Peoples Lawyers Forum, Sindh)
• Ruby Hayat Awan (Finance Secretary of the Lahore High Court Bar Association - LHCBA)
• Muhammad Javed Khan (Director General - Accreditation & Attestation – Higher Education Commission Pakistan)
• Dr Faisal Awan (Project Management Office Director of the Capital Development Authority – CDA – Islamabad)
• Iftikhar Ahmed Awan (Director, Environment Directorate, CDA)
• Aurangzaib Ashraf Awan (Deputy Director, Environment Directorate, CDA)
• Saeed Ahmed Awan (Sindh Labour Director)
• Dr. Farooq Awan (District Health Officer – DHO – Abbottabad)
• Malik Aurangzeb Awan (Organising Secretary of the Traders Action Committee, Islamabad)
• Nasreen Awan (2006 Nobel Peace Prize nominee). President of the NGO, Anjuman Falah-e-Niswan Chichawanti. Member of the District Council of Sahiwal. Member of the National Steering Committee of the Pakistan Social Forum)
• Malik Mohammad Riaz Awan (Nazim Jauharabad, Khushab District)
• Malik Shoaib Awan (Nazim Sargodha Tehsil)
• Malik Mohammad Khan Awan (Vice President, Cantonment Board, Multan)
• Iqbal Ahmed Awan (EDO EDUCATION CHAKWAL)
• Malik Gulgulastan khan chakwal (Politics)1957
• Chairman Muhammad Irshad Awan, Nazim, UC Najifpur, Haripur. (Chairman Social Welfare Committee / Bait-ul-Mal, District Haripur / Member District Council Haripur / Member Revenue Committee, District Haripur / Member Excise & Taxation, District Haripur) 0301-5541002
• Saleem Akhtar Awan, MPA (PPP), (Ex-Naib Nazim, UC Najifpur, Haripur).
• Malik Mahmood Hussain Awan, Ex-Nazim, UC New Satellite Town, Saorgoadh.
• Malik Ejaz Hussain Awan, Ex-Naib Nazim, UC Bochal Kalan, ( Makhyal )
• Malik Kashif Raza Awan Deputy District Officer (Revenue),Punjab, (Origin: Bhalwal Distt. Sargodha
• Dr.Shabbir Ahmed Awan, Ex-Chairman Tehsil Zakat & Ushr committee, Bhalwal (Sargodha)President Anti - TB Association Tehsil Bhalwal ( Sargodha), Secretary - General Anjuman Flah-e-Marizaan THQ Hospital - Bhalwal, President Co-ordination Council for Social Welfare Tehsil Bhalwal.(Sargodha).
• Ehtesham Ul Haq Awan, District Zakat Officer, Zakat & Ushr Department, Government of the Punjab.(Awan Chowk, Tariqabad, Bhalwal (Distt.Sargodha).
• Malik Hakmeen Khan, veteran PPP politician'

• Air Marshal Nur Khan (Commander in Chief of the Pakistan Air Force, 1965-69)
• Major General Malik Haq Nawaz Khan(Sitara-i-Pakistan) 1st Commanding Officer of 1st Armoured Division of Pakistan Army 1956-1959.
• Lieutenanant General Malik Arif Hayat (Director General/DG C4I Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence, General Headquarters - GHQ. Colonel Commandant of the Punjab Regiment. Commandant, Command and Staff College, the Pakistani army’s oldest and most prestigious institution. Recipient of the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, the highest honour that can be awarded to those who have attained the rank of Major General and Lieutenant General)
• Lieutenant General Akhtar Hussain Malik. During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, he was GOC of the Pakistani Army’s 12 Division. Commandant, Command and Staff College. Recipient of the Hilal-i-Jurat, Pakistan’s second highest gallantry military award)
• Lieutenant General Abdul Ali Malik . Recipient of the Hilal-i-Jurat. During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, he played a vital role in the Battle of Chawinda, ensuring that Pakistan successfully resisted the Indian thrust towards Wazirabad. The battle proved to be the most crucial event of the war, because the Indian objective to capture the Grand Trunk Road and divide West Pakistan into two, could not be acieved. The battle is also considered second only to the Battle of El-Alamein, as the greatest tank battle in history. It was also the largest tank battle since World War II .
• Major General Sarfaraz Khan .During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, he was GOC of the Pakistani army’s 10th Division that blunted the Indian offensive towards Lahore.
• General Tajammul Hussain Malik . Following the 1971 Indo-Pak war, he was the only Pakistani Brigadier who fought in East Pakistan to be promoted to the rank of Major General. He was also highly praised in the Hamood-ur-Rehman Commission Report which recommended that he be awarded the highest military honours for valour displayed.
• Major General Amir Faisal Alavi ,the first General Officer Commanding of the elite Special Service Group . He also commanded the elite Group as a Brigadier.The first Pakistani General who captained the Armed Forces Skydiving Team as a General Officer.
• Major General Mohammad Farooq (DG Artillery, GHQ)
• Lieutenant General Azmat Bakhsh Awan who was Commandant, Command and Staff College as well as Commander 1 Corps.
• Major General Asad Malik ,Commandant, Army Medical College. Married to Major General Dr. Shahida Malik, the Pakistani Army’s first female Major General).
• Lieutenant General Nazar Hussain (DG of Army Air Defence. Current Chief Executive,Cadet College Kallar Kahar)
• Major General Saleem Malik .Former Commandant,Pakistan Military Academy. Cousin of Malik Naeem Awan – see ‘Government and Politics’ above).
• Lieutenat General Malik Faiz Jilani. Served as Commander 30 Corps and Adjutant General , Pakistan Army.
• Major General Malik Iftikhar Khan . Served as Commander 5 Corps Reserve and Director General Armoured Corps.
• Major General Mohammad Hussain Awan, died in a plane crash along with former Pakistani President, General Zia ul Haq.
• Lieutenant General Abdul Majeed Malik
• Major General Sher Bahdur Khan.
• Major General Mehboob Alam Malik who commanded Pakistan Army's first armoured brigade to be located in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
• Major General Nazhakat.
• Brigadier Mohammad Hussain Malik, Makhyal, Dist Chakwal
• Brigadier Mohammad Marghub, AECSitara-i-Imtiaz.
• Brigadier Mohammad Younis, AEC (Commandant of the College of Army Education, Upper Topa, (Murree)
• Brigadier Mohammad Zafar Iqbal Awan (Colonel of the Ekasi Regiment.
• Brigadier Muhammad Afsar Khan, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Military ,32 Medium Regiment Artillery [Pak Army], ex-DIG [Punjab Rangers])
• Brigadier Tariq Masood Malik (32 Medium Regiment Artillery ,[Pak Army]}
• Colonel Malik Khan (Army Education Corps) Served as HOD (English Department in PMA)
• Lieutenant Colonel Amir Hameed Awan Shaheed of the Special Services Group , Pakistan Army. The President lauded the bravery, courage and devotion to duty of the late Amir Hameed Awan and other officers and men who lost their lives in the conduct of an operation in Kohlu in August 2006.
• Lieutenant Colonel Hafeez Ullah Awan (Served in various formations of the Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers including the Military College of Engineering, MCE Risalpur. Recipient of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for his services to the Pakistani Army)
• Commander Amjad Ali Awan (Recipient of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for his services to the Pakistani Navy)
• Aizad Baksh Awan (In 1933, he became one the first five Indians to be commissioned into the British Indian Air Force - all five being commissioned as Pilot officers; He was also the sole Muslim of the five. He went on to join the Pakistani Air Force and retired as Wing Commander)
• Major Muhammad Akram (Shaheed). Recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan's highest military award for valour which was exhibited by him in Hilli, East Pakistan.
• Lance Naik Sher Shah Awan. Recipient of the [[Victoria Cross, the highest recognition for valour “in the face of the enemy” that was awarded to British Empire personnel.

Britain’s richest Asians. She is Chief Executive of the highly successful international brand, the Shere Khan group. In 2004, she was awarded an OBE - Order of the British Empire - for services to export and charity. Also serves as a race adviser to the British government)

• Dr. Moneeb Awan (Manchester born business entrepreneur. Founder and Managing Director of the award-winning eSAY Group - a £1m turnover IT, m-commerce and marketing consultancy. He is also a prominent figure in the Salford Chamber of Commerce, The Institute of Directors North West and the Confederation of British Industry – CBI. Also see 'Academia' below)
• Dr. Hafiz-ur-Rahman (Vice President of GTT International Inc. which imports fabric goods from China and supplies them to stores in the United States, such as Macy's)
• Ejaz Malik (Former Department Head, MIS & IT Deptt., United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office South West Asia, Technology Head, Beauchamp Financial Technologies UK, Project Director MCOM-3NOX-AAD09)

• Dr.Hakim Haji Ghulam Nabi Awan , Raees-e-Azam of Lahore, renowned Indian physician/homeopath to King George and the Nawab of Bahawalpur. Died in 1914. Wrote two books on the origins of the Awans , Bab-ul-Awan and Zab-ul-Awan.
• Dr. Akthar Hussein Awan . Dean , Institute of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine and first Principal of Allama Iqbal Medical College , Lahore. Winner of Presidents Pride of Performance medal.
• Professor Dr. Muhammad Abdullah (Dean, Faculty of Animal Production and Technology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore)
• Professor Dr. Mohammad Daud Awan .Dean of the Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Hazara, Mansehra)
• Professor Ghulam Hussain Awan (Head of English Department, Government College, Mianwali. Known for his literary work and research articles which have been published in various national English dailies.
• Abdur Rahman Awan (Pakistan’s first Mathematics PhD Laureate and Senior Scientist at Kahuta Research Laboratories)
• Dr. Moneeb Awan (Manchester born scientist, specialising in Biochemistry. Along with Professor Dave Saggerson, co-authored a research paper on the break down of fats in the heart, that has been well-received and widely acknowledged in scientific circles)
• Shaukat Ali Awan (Pakistan's Chief Meteorologist)
• Malik Zahoor Ahmad (Political Analyst - Middle East and South Asia expert. CNN commentator)
• Maulana Ismail Alvi (Prominent Deobandi scholar)
• Malik Mohabbat Hussain Awan (Philosopher)
• Maulana Pir Fakirullah Bakoti (Theosophist)
• Dr. Asif Raza Awan (Distinguished homeopath)
• Sabir Hussain Awan (Prominent Hindko researcher and author)
• Maulana Ameer Mohammad Akram Awan (Famed Sufi. Shaikh of the Naqshbandia Owaisiah Order. Mufassir, philosopher and reformist. Dean of the Siqarah Education System. Also head of a welfare organisation, the Al-Falah Foundation)
• Malik Saleem Iqbal Awan (Pharm-D from The Islamia University Of Bahawalpur) ATTOCK

• Malik Ghualm Murtaza Awan, Journalist, Makhyal, Dist Chakwal. ( Current Affair Analyst,Urdu News Saudi Arabia, Jasarat Pakistan, Asia Pakistan
• Talat-Farooq Awan, Journalist & Broadcaster, BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation]
• Sultan Bahu .Sufi poet-saint. Founded the Sarwari Qadiri Sufi order.
• Ahmad Nadeem Qasimi (Renowned author, poet and journalist. Founded, published and edited the prestigious literary journal Funoon. Served as Secretary of the Progressive Writers Movement. Recipient of the President’s Pride of Performance, the Pakistan Academy of Letters Lifetime Achievement award, as well as one of the country’s highest civilian honours, the Sitara-i-Imtiaz for Literature)
• Wasif Ali Wasif. (Eminent Sufi author and poet)
• Ghulam Rasul Meher .Acclaimed journalist and writer.
• Muhammad Rizwan Malik, Acclaimed journalist and writer, Bureau Chief Rung Television, Al-Jazeera T.V.International, Chief Editor Nawai-Awan Magazine.
• Fazil Jamili.Distinguished poet. Twice elected as General Secretary of the Karachi Union of Journalists)
• Jawad R. Awan (Eminent journalist who writes for Pakistan’s leading English dailies. Senior Political Correspondent of The Post)
• Abdul Qadir Hassan (Well-known columnist)
• Jashar Awan (American illustrator. Regular contributor to The New York Times, The New Yorker and Dark Horse Comics)
• Inayatullah (Founder and Editor of Hikayat*Ahmad Nadeem Awan (Broadcaster and prominent Hindko poet)

Malik Muhammad Sarwar Awan, EDO (Mansehra & Haripur)

• Saadat Awan . (Indie Rock Musician)
• Fariha Pervaiz (Actress and one of Pakistan’s most popular female vocalists)
• Taha Malik (Producer/Entrepreneur/Musician)
• Fakhar-e-Alam , (Singer, actor and compere)
• Samina Awan (British actress. Star of the movie, Love+Hate. In 2005, she was nominated in the Most Promising Newcomer category at the 8th Annual British Independent Film Awards)
• Shakeel Awan (Folk singer)

• Shoaib Malik International cricketer. Captain of the Pakistani cricket team.
• Saleem Malik .International cricketer. Former Captain of the Pakistani cricket team.
• Mohammad Akram .International cricketer.

• The Garrison State: Military Government and Society in Colonial Punjab 1849-1947 , Tan Tai Yong
• The Armies of India, Major A.C. Lovett
• Punjabi Musalmans (Handbook for the British Indian Army), J.M. Wikeley
• Ferozsons Urdu-English Dictionary
• Awan Travels, Dr. Asif Raza Awan

Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province By H.A. Rose

v • d • e Ethnic groups, tribes and clans of the Punjab
Ancient Kshatriya Tribes	Ahir • Dhangar • Gurjar • Kamboj • Khash • Mers
Arains	Arain • Chaudhary • Mian • Malik • Sardar • Ramay • Ramday • Mundh • Goheer • Munda • Ghurki • Daula • Chhachhar • Bhutta • Kardar • Hansi • katarbund • Ghalar • Gejial • sapal • Dholanwal • Kukru • Gatku • Kawali • Basroo • Bhutta • Mudh • Chandu • Bhalay • Dhadhay • Dhengay • Rattay • Labanay • Wahnd • Vehra • Jatala • Bhoongay • Pawadhray • Qutub Shahi • Rahail • Behlwan • Saggi • Mulanay • Teer Andaz • Malgoria • Jandialia • Nihal
Brahmins	Punjabi Brahmins • Saraswat Brahmins • Mohyal • Bali • Bhimwal • Chhibber • Datt • Lau • Mohan • Vaid
Dalits	Punjabi Dalits • Balmiki • Chamar • Chura • Kabirpanthi • Mazhabi • Nai • Ramdasia • Rangrehta • Ravidasi
Jats	Jat: List of Jat clans
Khatris	Khatri : Dhaighar • Sekhri • Charghar • Aathghar • Barahghar • Bawanghar • Kukhran • Sareen • List of Khatri subgroups Arora : Uttradhi • Dakhna • Gujarati • List of Arora subgroups Bhatia • Sood
Rajputs	Rajput • Bagal • Bais • Bhutta • Bhatti • Chadhar • Chauhan • Chibb • Doad • Dogra • Gheba • Haral • Jamwal • Janjua • Jarral • Johiya • Jaura • Jodhra • Khakha • Kharal • Khati • Khokhar • Mahnike • Mair • Mangral • Manhas • Manj • Meo • • Minhas • Mir • Narma • Naul • Noon • Paramara • Parhar • Pawar • Pundir • Puni • Punwar • Rana • Rawat • Ranial • Rawal • Rawal Rajput • Rathore
Saini
Shaikhs	Shaikh • Abbasi • Alavi • Farooqi • Gardezi • Gilani • Hashemi • Osmani • Paracha • Quraishi • Sayyid • Shaikh Siddiqui
Tarkhans	Tarkhan : • Chaggar • Dhiman • Gade • Jhangra • Kalsi • Khatti • Lall • Matharu • Nagi • Netal • Siawan • Seyan • Tharu • Panesar • Palahi • Riat Rayat • Virdi • List of Tarkhan surnames
Ahluwalia	•Ahluwalia
Others	•Agarwal • Bakarwal • Bania • Bishnoi • Sansi