History
Early history of the city is unknown. The city is famous for the shrine of Mian Sultan Zakria (RA) whose father Mian Ali founded Mianwali village in the 16th century. The son is said to have exhibited supernatural powers from an early age and many miraculous deeds are ascribed to him. His name is frequently taken as an oath and his shrine is not uncommonly the scene of settlement of civil disputes.
Before the British rule, the area formed an integral portion of the Graeco–Bactrian Empire of Kabul and the Punjab.[1] During British rule, the Indian empire was subdivided into provinces, divisions and districts; afterward, the independence of Pakistan divisions remained the third tier of government until 2000. The British had made the town of Mianwali as tehsil headquarters of Bannu District then part of Dera Ismail Khan Division of Punjab province. The population of Mianwali, according to the 1901 census of India, was 3,591.[2]
In November 1901, the North-West Frontier Province was carved out of Punjab and the towns of Mianwali, Isa Khel, Kalabagh, and Kundian were separated from Bannu District (Bannu became part of NWFP) and hence a new district was made with the headquarters in Mianwali city and placed in Punjab. The district became a part of Multan Division. There were four tehsils namely Mianwali, Isa Khel, Bhakkar, and Layyah. Layyah was included in the Muzaffargarh District in 1909. The district became a part of Sargodha Division in 1961. Bhakkar Tehsil was carved out of Mianwali District and was made a separate district inside Sargodha Division w.e.f. 01-07-1982.
Early history of the city is unknown. The city is famous for the shrine of Mian Sultan Zakria (RA) whose father Mian Ali founded Mianwali village in the 16th century. The son is said to have exhibited supernatural powers from an early age and many miraculous deeds are ascribed to him. His name is frequently taken as an oath and his shrine is not uncommonly the scene of settlement of civil disputes.
Before the British rule, the area formed an integral portion of the Graeco–Bactrian Empire of Kabul and the Punjab.[1] During British rule, the Indian empire was subdivided into provinces, divisions and districts; afterward, the independence of Pakistan divisions remained the third tier of government until 2000. The British had made the town of Mianwali as tehsil headquarters of Bannu District then part of Dera Ismail Khan Division of Punjab province. The population of Mianwali, according to the 1901 census of India, was 3,591.[2]
In November 1901, the North-West Frontier Province was carved out of Punjab and the towns of Mianwali, Isa Khel, Kalabagh, and Kundian were separated from Bannu District (Bannu became part of NWFP) and hence a new district was made with the headquarters in Mianwali city and placed in Punjab. The district became a part of Multan Division. There were four tehsils namely Mianwali, Isa Khel, Bhakkar, and Layyah. Layyah was included in the Muzaffargarh District in 1909. The district became a part of Sargodha Division in 1961. Bhakkar Tehsil was carved out of Mianwali District and was made a separate district inside Sargodha Division w.e.f. 01-07-1982.
