Kharan (princely state)


The State of Kharan was an autonomous princely state in a subsidiary alliance with British India, until the departure of the British from the subcontinent in August 1947. it was fully independent, until March 1948, when its ruler signed an Instrument of Accession to Pakistan, retaining the state's internal self-government. In 1955 Kharan was incorporated into Pakistan.
The territory once covered by Kharan is today part of the province of Balochistan, in the southwest of Pakistan.

History

The state of Kharan was established in about 1697 CE as a vassal state of Kalat, which remained until 1940. It became independent of Kalat in 1940. On 17 March 1948, Kharan acceded to Pakistan and on 3 October 1952 it joined the Baluchistan States Union. Mir Habibullah Nousherwani acceded to Pakistan stating: Haran was conquered by Nasir Khan in the late 18th century, but his power there was not fixed.
He further said:
Kalat doesn't have legitimacy to decide fate of Kharan. We announce our integration with Pakistan and we shall not tolerate further interference by ruling elite of Kalat.
The ruler of Kharan, Abbas Khan Nushervani, gave the Khan of Kalat part of his income, but he ruled his country on his own.
The rulers of Haran achieved relative independence not only from Kalat, but also from Kabul and Tehran, thanks to the remoteness of their possessions. In order to safeguard the trade routes from Iran to India, the Afghan emirs, although they considered the Khans of Kharan their vassals, did not take tribute from them, but rather provided them with regular monetary and other support.
The state was dissolved on 14 October 1955 when most regions of the western wing of Pakistan were merged to form the province of West Pakistan. When that province was dissolved in 1970, the territory of the former state of Kharan was organised as Kharan District of the province of Baluchistan.

Demographics

Nausherwani are considered Nawabs of Kharan and Washuk. Most respected family in Balochistan, Nausherwanis are divided into two sub tribes:first the Nawabs of Kharan, and second the sardars of Makran. The population of the state was mainly Baloch tribes, with some Brahui scattered across the area..

Government

The hereditary rulers of Kharan held the title of Mir
1680-1850, Khan 1850-1909, Khan Sahib 1909-1911, Sardar 1911-1919,
Sardar Bahadur 1919-1921 and Nawab from post 1921 onwards.
Date of ReignRulers of Kharan
1650-?Mir Muhammad Khan Nousherwani
?-?Mir Abbas Khan Nousherwani I
?-?Mir Dosten Khan Nousherwani
?-?Mir Dinar Khan Nousherwani I
?-?Mir Lalla Khan Nousherwani
?-?Mir Feroz Khan Nousherwani
?-?Mir Dosten Khan Nousherwani II
?-?Mir Dinar Khan Nousherwani II
?-?Mir Shahdad Khan Nousherwani I
1711-1711Mir Rahmat Khan Nousherwani
1711-1747Mir Purdil Khan Nousherwani
1747-1747Mir Abbas Khan Nousherwani II
1747-1759Mir Shahdad Khan Nousherwani II
1796-1804Mir Jahangir Khan Nousherwani
1810-1833Mir Abbas Khan Nosherwani III
1833–1885Mir Azad Khan Nousherwani
1885–1909Khan Sahib Mir Nowruz Khan Nousherwani
1909–1911Khan sahib Mir Mohammad Yaqub Khan Nousherwani
1911–1955Sardar Bahadur Nawab Mir Habibullah Khan Nousherwani
14 October 1955State merged into West Pakistan
1955–1958Nawab Mir Habibullah Khan Nousherwani