DERA GHAZI KHAN, Aug 12: The Qaisrani tribesmen at a traditional ceremony on Sunday chose Mir Badshah Khan Qaisrani their 21st tribal chief in Kot Qaisrani.

Mir Badshah was chosen as his father Zahoor Khan Qaisrani, the chief, had died on July 27 last.

In accordance with Baloch traditions, elder son of the deceased sardar becomes the head of his tribe. Mir Badshah Khan, the only son of late Zahoor Qaisrani, was chosen new chief by his tribesmen in the presence of chiefs of the other Baloch tribes or their representatives at a dastar bandi in Kot Qaisrani, the headquarters of Qaisrani tribe on the foothills of Suleman Range.

According to Qaisrani tribesmen, their first sardar was Qaisar Khan, the cousin of Mir Chakar Khan Rind. He was contemporary of Emperor Humayoon. Later, Lashkar Khan, Phor Band Khan, Masu Khan, Basham Khan and Feroz Khan became chiefs of the Qaisranis at their respective times, they said.

They said after the death of Sardar Feroz Khan Qaisrani of Lashkari clan, a sub cast of Qaisrani tribe, sardari shifted to another sub cast of Qaisrani tribe called Khabdain. Dilshad Khan Khabdain Qaisrani was the seventh chief of the tribe and the first sardar from his clan, they said. They added Khabdain led another clan Dilshadani Qaisrani.

After his death, they claimed the chiefs had been chosen from his family. Sardar Lal Khan, Sardar Qutab Khan, Sardar Gul Khan, Sardar Bhudan Khan and Sardar Jamal Khan Qaisrani remained chiefs of the tribe, they said.

The tribesmen said Sardar Mitha Khan Qaisrani died in 1862 and after his death his minor son Fazal Khan became sardar. They recalled the minor’s authority was usurped by one Kaura Khan Qaisrani, chief of his own clan. Kaura Khan Qaisrani had abducted Dera Ismail Khan’s Deputy Commissioner Lt Grey, who had come for the investigation in a murder case against the son of Kaura Khan Qaisrani.

Subsequently, Lagharis and Khosas had helped the British expedition led to the release of the DC, they said, adding soon his son reconciled with the tribal chief.

After Fazal Khan, they said Allah Bakhsh, Mahmood Khan, Imam Bakhsh Khan and Amir Muhammad Khan became chiefs of the Qaisrani tribe.

Manzoor Khan Qaisrani became the chief of the tribe after the death of Sardar Amir Bakhsh Khan in 1986, they said. Then, they said Zahoor Khan Qaisrani became the head of the tribe till his death on 27 July, 2002.