Kohat District

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district = Kohat District
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caption =Location of Kohat District (highlighted in red) within the North-West Frontier Province.
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Kohat is a district of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, Kohat city is the capital of the district.

History

Ancient History

The early history of the district is limited to the vaguest traditions. It is said that in the Buddhist times, two Rajas named Adh and Kohat settled along with the northern border of the district. The remnants of the Buddhist day is a road cut off the mountain side, on the western skirts of the Jawaki hills near Kotal Post which leads by an even gradient towards the crest.

Mughal Era

The first historical mention of Kohat is to be found in the memoirs of Babur (who later created the Mughal Empire), who visited Kohat in 1505. Babar in his memoirs calls the inhabitants of the area Afghan.

After Babar the history of Kohat revolves around two major tribes namely Bangash and Khattak. These people appear to have settled in the district, during 14th am 15th centuries. From 16th to 18th centuries, Kohat remained a part of Afghanistan, administered by the Chiefs of two afore mentioned tribes. In the beginning of 19th century Kohat came under the control of Sikhs who ultimately withdrew leaving to the administrative control of Khan of Teri in 1836.

British Era

Kohat was finally annexed to the British dominion on 28th March 1849 with the rest of Punjab and an Assistant Commissioner was posted here to run the administration and to look after the British interests. In the initial stages of the British administration, the locals of the area posed considerable problems. Later on some of the tribe joined with the British Government and helped them in running the area. Nevertheless, the Britishers were never at peace in this part of their Kingdom as resistance and opposition always cropped from one quarter or the other. But their tactics of "Divide and Rule" ultimately strengthened their hold over the region. They put one tribe against the other by giving preference to one against the other and finally succeeded in administration them. An example of unrest against the British in this area is the event of the brave Afridi Ajab Khan, who forced the entire British administration of the district to surrender to his demands.

Administration

Kohat district is divided into two Tehsils.
*Kohat
*Lachi

The district is represented in the provincial assembly by three elected MPAs who represent the following constituencies: [ [http://www.panwfp.gov.pk/index.php/members/bydistrict/en/9/47 Constituencies and MPAs - Website of the Provincial Assembly of the NWFP] ]

* PF-37 (Kohat-1)
* PF-38 (Kohat-2)
* PF-39 (Kohat-3)

References