Page 22 - Muzaffargarh Gazzetteer

Idhar shahan Kabul ki nazaron dur.
(On that side, anarchy in the Delhi kingdom;
On this side, far from the eyes of the kings of Kabul.)
As far as Multan is concerned it has no history connected with the district
from the time of the Langahs to the establishment of the Multani Pathans.
These were a family of Sadozai Afghans, and a branch of the family to which
Ahmad Shah, Taimur Shah, Zaman Shah and Shah Shuja – kings of Kabul
– belonged. The first of the family who came to India was Hussain Khan, who
held Rangpur in this district in jagir in the time of Aurangzeb. Zahid Khan
was the first of the family who became Nawab of Multan in around 1738.
Between the accession of Zahid Khan and that of his son, Shuja Khan, simple
anarchy prevailed. Shuja Khan was invested with the government of Multan
in 1767. He founded Shujabad in Multan opposite Khangarh. In his time, the
Bhangi Sikhs overran the country and occupied Multan, driving Shuja Khan
to Shujabad. The raids and cruelty of the Bhangi Sikhs later became part of
the local folklore. Shuja Khan was succeeded by his son, Muzaffar Khan, who
could not recover Multan till 1779, when he was reinstated by Taimur Shah,
King of Kabul, who expelled the Sikhs and appointed Muzaffar Khan the
Governor of Multan with the title of Nawab. A separate account has been
given of Muzaffar Khan’s rule, being the founder of Muzaffargarh.
NAWAB MUZAFFAR KHAN
Nawab Muzaffar Khan’s rule was a continuous warfare, but still he paid his
attention towards the betterment and development of his people. He realized
the importance of ‘Musan de Hatti’ on the road leading from Multan to Dera
Ghazi Khan on the other side of the Chenab. He decided to build a fort there,
and hence the fort and town of Muzaffargarh were founded in 1794.
Similarly, the establishment of forts and towns at Khangarh and
Ghazanfargarh are attributed to his sister, Khan Bibi, and brother, Nawab
Ghazanfar Khan respectively. In all, the talukas of Rangpur, Muradabad,
Muzaffargarh, Khangarh and Ghazanfargarh were added to the territory of
Multan then. Muzaffargarh became his central town across the Chenab and
attracted people, primarily the agriculturists, from other parts of his territory
as Muzaffar Khan dug canals, made embankments and extended cultivation.
In December 1807, he sailed to Mecca to perform Hajj. He stayed there for
more than a year and on his way back home, he purchased many rare
varieties of the date palm which he transplanted in Shujabad, Multan and
Muzaffargarh. No wonder many varieties of dates produced in the region
might have their origin to those days.
It was a tumultuous time as Ranjit Singh had set his eyes on Multan. After
at least a couple of unsuccessful attempts he sent an expedition of 50000
soldiers under the over-all command of his son, Prince Kharak Singh. Nawab
Muzaffar Khan, on the other hand, had only 2000 soldiers at his disposal not
only to defend Multan but also the town and fort of Shujabad. The Sikhs

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