Kalmati & Zikri Tribes of Baluchistan

 Kalmati & Zikri Tribes of Baluchistan 

“The night is adorned by the stars and the desert by the Balochs.”

Kalmati and Zikri are two distinct Baloch tribes living and protecting coasts of Sindh and Baluchistan from ancient times. Ancestors of Kalmati tribe came from south Caspian Sea area present day Turkey and Azerbaijan whereas followers of Zikri`s are mostly Afro-Indian known as Shidi and considers Bibi Duri Baloch as there cultural God who probably visited Koh e Murad in Turbat, Baluchistan on 27th of Ramzan when she was 50`s. She was probably part of Mahdavia Islamic movement founded by Syed Muhammad Jaunpuri in India.

Arab`s hated both mentioned Baloch tribes and had never accepted them as sect of Islam. As per 2002 census around 600,000 Zikri`s lives in Pakistan apart from there large population living in CharBahar (Iran) out of which 100,000 settled in Karachi and has developed a better identity, as they have gradually built a good living, and better education in contrary to other tribes.

 Kalmati tribe believed to be decedents of Mir Jalalan and Mir Hoath. In early 12th Century, they had proven their identity from Pasni, Baluchistan to Manora, Sindh. Naomul Hotchand (1804-1878) writes in "Memoirs of Seth Naomul Hotchand" (London, 1915, p. 129) that, "The depredations of the Kalmatis, Numries, and of the Jokhias on the outskirts and in the vicinity of Karachi struck terror in the hearts of the people, and all intercourse and communication with the outside world was cut off."