Awan اعوان | |
---|---|
Ethnicity | Punjabi (incl. Hindkowans) |
Location | Punjab, Sindh and Azad Kashmir |
Language | Hindko, Punjabi, Urdu |
Religion | Islam |
Awan (Punjabi and Urdu: اعوان) is a Punjabi Muslim tribe and surname[1][2] originating from the Punjab region of Pakistan. Awans are predominantly present in the northern, central, and western parts of Punjab, with significant population also present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, and to a lesser extent, in Sindh and Balochistan. They claim to be descendants of the Qutub Shah who came to the region with Mahmud of Ghazni.[3]
Before the arrival of Awan tribes, the valley was a part of the state under the rule of Janjua Rajputs. They were forcibly ousted by the Awans. The Awans claim that their ancestor, Qutb Shah came along with the army of Sultan Mahmood of Ghazna in the 10th century. He headed some troops of Alavids who had been given the title of Awans by the Sultan.