Bannu

Bannu District is a district in the Bannu Division of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Its status as a district was formally recorded in 1861 during the British Raj.This district constitutes one of the 26 districts that collectively form the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It borders North Waziristan to the northwest, Karak to the northeast, Lakki Marwat and Bettani to the southeast, and South Waziristan to the southwest. It is represented in the provincial assembly by four MPAs. Cloth weaving, sugar mills and the manufacturing of cotton fabrics, machinery and equipment are the major industries in Bannu. It is also known for its weekly Jumma fair. The district forms a basin drained by the Kurram and Gambila (or Tochi) rivers, which originate in the hills of Waziristan. Although Bannu is surrounded by rugged and dry mountains, it is a fertile place, and early English visitors had been known to refer to it as a “paradise”.Bannu was formerly a British Army stronghold. The British built a wall around the city with several gates in every direction and a giant fort in the Cantonment area named Dilip Singh Fort. The city gates are called Lakki Gate, Parady Gate, Qasbaan Gate, Mandaan Gate, Sokari Gate, Hinjaal Gate, Miryan Gate and Railway Gate, much like the wall and gates of Lahore. There are several famous markets and business centers in the inner Bannu city, which include Chowk Bazar, Tanchi Bazar (famous for a huge water tank high above the surrounding buildings), Chai Bazar (famous for variety of tea), Railway Bazar, Jaman Road Bazar (famous for countless Jaman trees alongside the road), Tehsil Bazar (famous for gold merchants), Mir Saudad Market and Gardanali Gali (famous for ladies items), Tail Mandi (famous for all kinds of oil), Sabzi Mandi, Gurh Mandi (famous for the best Gurh in the region), Ghalla Mandi, Maal Mandi.Chowk Bazar is the most famous market in the entire region. Every day, after Asar prayer (Mozdigar) the people gather and celebrate festivities, dancing to the traditional dhol rhythm and eating and sharing sweetries. Some say that Eid is celebrated every day at Chowk Bazar.A majority of the people of Bannu (Banisai or Banisee) live in the villages surrounding the city. There is a strong tribe system prevalent in the region.

The major tribes are Banisee, Niazi, Wazirs, Marwats , Abbasies, Bhittaan, Syeds and Awan with many more sub-tribal groups and factions within each larger tribe.The men of Bannu wear Kameez Shalway (Khat Pardeeg) usually with a Waistcoat and a Shawl (Parkai) and the traditional Bannu sandals (Supleeyay)(much like the national dress of Pakistan). They also prefer the Charsadda/Kohati chappal and many of them wear a cap of some sort all the time. Most men either grow beards or only a mustache with rarely anyone clean shaven. Also, the men like to put on rings with some stones preferably Yaqoot. Formal dressing is similar but without the Shawl and with Charsadda/Kohati chappal and usually a Blazer in the winters. The women-folk wear colourful clothes at home but go outside only in a full Burqa (also known as a shuttlecock burqa). Bannu Woolen Mills is famous all over Pakistan for producing the great quality fabrics. However there is also a very powerful legal system in place in Bannu and the surrounding region. It is the Jirgah system which has the power to end disputes and enforce the terms of the resolution on both parties. The Jirgah system has several levels. The most basic level is at the village level, there the village elders (Mushaeron) deliberate and decide upon the solutions. If one party does not agree with the proposed solution, they have to pay a set amount of fine before they can appeal to the higher level of Jirgah. The next level of Jirgah is at the region level and then the district level and all the way up to the Loyah Jirgah that usually tends to Matters of National Security or Tribal Warfare.