The Khagga are tribe of Arab

Arab

Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...

 origin and are said to belong to the Shaikh community. They are mostly found in south-west Punjab, Pakistan and speak Seraiki.

History & origin

Khaggas claim to be Qureshi, and are descended from Jalal ud Din, a disciple of the famous Sufi, Mohammed Iraq. Khagga is said to mean a particular kind of fish; and the name was given to Jalal ud Din by his spiritual teacher on the occasion of his rescuing a boat overtaken by a storm. According to traditions, during the period of Sikh

Sikh

A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...

 rule, if anyone was distressed they could take refuge in the home of any Khagga.

Distribution

They are found throughout South Punjab, with concentrations in Mailsi

Mailsi

Mailsi is a city in Multan region,Pakistan. It is located at 29°48'1N 72°10'33E at an altitude of 126 m .It was the biggest tehsil of Multan District and two districts Lodhran and Vehari were carved out by taking land of Mailsi in 19th and 20th centuries. Vehari which is now district was...

 in Vehari District

Vehari District

Vehari District is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan - the city of Vehari is the capital of the district. The district was created in 1976 out of the three tehsils of Multan District . The name Vehari means low lying settlement by a flood water channel...

, as well as in Multan

Multan

Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...

, Khanewal

Khanewal

Khanewal is the capital city of Khanewal District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is notable for being the host city to the second largest train station in Pakistan. Khanewal is located at 30°18'0N 71°56'0E with an altitude of 128 metres and is named after the earliest settlers here who...

 and Sahiwal

Sahiwal

Sahiwal is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the administrative centre of Sahiwal District and Sahiwal Division. Sahiwal is approximately 180 km from the major city Lahore and is the city between Lahore and Multan...

 districts. The Sahiwal

Sahiwal

Sahiwal is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the administrative centre of Sahiwal District and Sahiwal Division. Sahiwal is approximately 180 km from the major city Lahore and is the city between Lahore and Multan...

 Khaggas are said to have come from Multan

Multan

Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...

 in the 18th century after the invasion of Ranjit Singh.

Important Khagga villages include Chak Shahana, Bherowal and Vehniwal Estate[jahanian] in Khanewal District

Khanewal District

Khanewal is District of Punjab province in Pakistan. It most widely known for being the host city to the second largest Train Station in Pakistan...

, Noor Shah village in Sahiwal District

Sahiwal District

Sahiwal District is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. As of 1998, it had a population of 1,843,194 people, 16.27% of which were located in urban areas. Since 2008, Sahiwal District along with Okara District and Pakpattan District has comprised the Sahiwal Division...

. and Pakka Majeed near the town of Mian Channu. Other Khaga villages include Moza Allam Shah Khagga in Faisalabad District

Faisalabad District

Faisalabad District is one of the districts of Punjab province, Pakistan. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan it had a population of 5,429,547 of which almost 42% were in Faisalabad City....

, and Chak Shah Khagga in Pakpatan District.