Origins

 The Leghari (pronounced LAIGHARI) Baloch tribe is one of Pakistan's largest Baloch tribes. The Leghari Baloch are originally "Rind Baloch". The Baloch do not have a documented history and as such the exact movement of the tribe is not known yet it is established that the tribe has had influence in past centuries in the Sibi, Barkhan and Loralai area of Balochistan . More than two centuries ago they conquered a large part of what is today Dera Ghazi Khan District and established themselves at Choti Zareen (Lower Choti). The Leghari Tumandars (or Sardars i.e Tribal leaders) ruled a vast territory and collected tax from as far off as Barkhan in Balochistan.

Distribution

The Leghari tribe is settled mainly in Southern Punjab and Sindh province's of Pakistan; though the Legharis have large land holdings in Balochistan also.

 

A segment of the Leghari tribe migrated to Sindh on the invitation of the Kalhora rulers. They were accompanied by many other Baloch clans like the Jatois, Khosa, Chandios, etc. The famous Talpur Mirs (rulers) of Sindh are also a clan of the Leghari tribe. The Leghari tribe in Sindh is mostly settled in Sukkur, Sanghar, Hyderabad, Dadu, Thatta and Larkana Districts.

Chiefs in Southern Punjab

The Leghari Sardars (chiefs) in the Punjab belong to the Aliani clan of the Leghari tribe. They are settled in Dera Ghazi Khan (Choti) and Rahim Yar Khan (Rahimabad). The current sardar (chief) of the Leghari tribe in Punjab is Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari (former President of Pakistan).                              

                                                             

                             Muhammad Khan Leghari (Farooq Leghari's father) with Mohd Afzal Khan Leghari at Rahimabad (Below)        

 Political representation 

The Leghari tribe probably has the largest "family" representation in the parliament (National & Provincial Assemblies, and District Governments) of Pakistan. Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari (former President Of Pakistan), his son Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecom, Farooq Leghari's nieces, Sumera Malik and Ayla Malik (granddaughters of Malik Amir Mohammed Khan of Kalabagh), Muhammad Jaffar Khan Leghari and his wife Mina Leghari are members of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Mohammad Jamal Khan Leghari is a member of the Senate of Pakistan. Rafique Haider Khan Leghari is the Nazim of Rahimyar Khan. Maqsood Ahmed Khan Leghari is the Nazim of Dera Ghazi Khan. Muhammad Khan Leghari, Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari and Muhammad Yusuf Khan Leghari are members of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.

 

Nadir Akmal Khan Leghari was member of the Provincial Assembly of the Sindh, Secretary General of PML Q and the Minister for Irrigation in the Government of Sindh. Muhammad Arshad Khan Leghari is currently a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan (MNA). He won his seat in the 2008 general elections.

 

Dr. Javaid Laghari is a member of the Senate of Pakistan from Sindh while Ms. Sajeela Leghari, Ms. Sharifunnisa Laghari and Dr. Manzoor Leghari were members of the Provincial Assembly of the Sindh.

Leghari Family in Pakistan's services

The Legharis are not only active in Politics but have also served in various branches of the Government. Notable amongst them; Atta Mohammad Khan Leghari (Late) was an ICS officer and held various prestigious appointments and was Member Board of Revenue. Manzoor Ahmed Khan Leghari also held various administrative positions as a DMG officer. Mohammad Rahim Khan Leghari was chief of the Bahwalpur State Police and later served as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Pakistan Police Service. Ghulam Asghar Khan Leghari served in Bahawalpur State Police and later retired as a DIG of Pakistan Police. Noor Illahi Khan Leghari (Late) is a retired Inspector General of Police who served as the Director General of the Intelligence Bureau and Chairman of Pakistan International Airlines Corp (PIA), he passed away on 4 Dec, 2015. Mushtaq Ahmed Khan Leghari is a retired Air Marshal from the Pakistan Air Force who also served as Pakistan's Ambassador to the UAE. Colonel Rafiq Ahmed Khan Leghari served as the Military Secretary to the Governor of Baluchistan and the Governor of Punjab respectively. He also served as Joint Director of the Intelligence Bureau and later was elected member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab. Aftab Ahmed Khan Leghari served as Member WAPDA. Ziauddin Khan Leghari is a retired DIG of Police. Nazir Ahmad Khan Leghari served as DG Local Government and retired as Joint Director Industries, Govt. of Punjab. Liaquat Ali Khan Leghari retired as a Commissioner of Income Tax while Fayyaz Ahmed Khan Leghari served as IG of Police.