Flashback: The Wali of Swat

In 1917, Wali of Swat was selected by grand jirga of elders in Swat and British granted him formal recognition in 1926

In 1917, the Wali of Swat was selected by a grand jirga of elders in Swat and the British granted him formal recognition in 1926. In the princely states, a wali-ahad or heir apparent would be nominated by the ruling nawab or prince of that state. Thus, the first Wali of Swat, Miangul Golshahzada, appointed his son Miangul Jahanzeb as his successor in 1933. The formal ceremony to mark Miangul Jahanzeb’s installation as the Wali was held on 12 December 1949, and was presided over by the then-prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan. The prime minister’s wife Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan also attended the ceremony.

PHOTO: MIANGUL ADNAN AURANGZEB/THE CITIZENS ARCHIVE OF PAKISTAN

CONCEPT: SANAM MAHER

DESIGN: SAMRA AMIR

This August, The Express Tribune will feature photographs from contributions to an open call for images from the struggle for independence and Pakistan’s formative years.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th,2014.