Loni (Pashtun tribe)

Luni (also spelled as Loni) is one of the tribes of Pashtuns, mainly living in Pakistan with its minority in Afghanistan.

Main body of Lunis is to be found in Duki District and a minority living at Sibi (Luni, Balochistan).

” The Lúnis are descended from Miani and are, therefore, connected with the Jáfars of the Músá Khél tahsíl. They designate themselves Durranis, the reason for which may be found in the fact that Miana was a brother of Tarín, the ancestor of the Durranis. Living near the Baloch, and being constantly at feud with them, the Lúnis appear to have adopted the arbitrary distribution of their component groups into large clans or divisions, which is common among the former. The tribe was, therefore, divided into the three main clans —Drigzai or Drugzai, Paláo and Rakhanwal. According to local accounts the Lúnis are descended from Laun, Durráni. Originally they were a pastoral tribe and used to come down from Khurásan to graze their flocks in Bagháo, Rarkan, Kingri, etc., returning to Khurasân for the summer. The eldest son of Laun was Shamé, from whom are descended the Shamézais (169) who are the sardár khél or chief's family. After Shamé, the chiefs of the tribe were successively Abbakar, Hatang and Haidar. In the time of Ghazi Khán, son of Haidar, a few of the Lúnis remained behind in Rarkan, while in the time of his son and successor Muhammad Khan, the migration back to Khurásan entirely ceased. Muhammad Khan founded the village of Kot Khán Muhammad in Kingri. Muhammad Khán had seven sons, of whom Dost Muhammad migrated to Déra Ghazi Khán, and Pérag Khán commenced cultivation in Rarkun, Rara Sham, etc. The Lúnis came into collision with the Músa Khéls at Hazargat on the Lúni river, and in one of the fights 400 Lúnis were killed when the remainder moved to Chamalang and Nath-ki-chap. Pérag Khan had two sons-Jalal Khan and Páind Khan—and on the former's death Paind Khan became the chief as Samundar Khan, son of Jalal Khan, was a weak man. Paind Khan collected a force of 800 men, and attacked some Marris who were living with the Khétrans. Bábul Khán, Khétrán, claimed the restoration of the property looted, but the Lúnis declined to give it up. In the fighting which ensued the Lúnis were at first successful, but the Khétráns and Marris at length collected in such force that the Lúnis were obliged to retire towards Lakhi. The Lunis are excellent soldiers and fine men. On grand occasions they make a great show of men in armour and of horsemen with tasseled spears. They are not on good terms with Marris.”

“ They built the following forts in Lakhi : Shair-Paind Khan , Shah Gul , Lashkar Khan , Mir Khan , Shair- Sanbat Khan , Aliph Khan , Chimna and Amran.”

“ About 25 years ago (1858) they (Lunis) came to an understanding with the Shadozais (Kakar) and extended their settlements into Chotiali township. The Tarins formerly holding these lands had either disappeared or were arranged with. The Shadozais when they first settled on Thal had been able to draw assistance from the Kakar country , and thus to even more than hold their own against the Marris , but latterly they had grown weaker, and the occupation of Chotiali by the Lunis was therefore an arrangement satisfactory to both the Thal people and Lunis.”

“The Lunis put up the following forts in the Chotiali township :— Shahr Mir Khan , Mahi Khan , Doda Khan , Kaim Khan , Shahr Bisharat Khan , Tali , Musa and Biluch Khan.“

“Paind Khan who was held in great respect by the Lunis was assassinated about five years ago (1878) by Kakars , he had gone to the Kakar country for the purpose of raising an army to co-operate with his own tribe against the Marris , 6 months later the Kakars under Dost Muhammad zhobi attacked the Lunis but were driven off with loss.”

“ Paind Khan had no son and was succeeded by his nephew Samandar Khan, and on the latter's death in 1893 Sardar Nawab Khan became the chief and was given the title of “Khan Bahadur” in 1900. He has abandoned Dewana Shahr (also known as Samundar Khan Shahr) and has now settled in Dhaki, His lands in Lakhi are revenue-free for life, and he and his brother Mir Khan enjoy an annual allowance of 1,050 maunds of grain which was converted into cash (Rs. 2,625) in April 1900. Another man of importance among the Lunis is Makho Khan, Shamezai.” 1907

“The majority of the Lunis are now engaged in agriculture, but some of them such as the Waliani, Marufzai, Mirzai, Lado and Katakhel also combine flock-owning with it.” 1907