Tiwana family of Shahpur

The Tiwana family of Shahpur is a Punjabi Muslim feudal family part of the Tiwana Punjabi clan of Jats elite.

They are one of the largest landowning families in the Punjab and have played an influential role in Punjabi politics since the 17th century. Shahpur District was once headed by Malik Sahib Khan Tiwana and Council Member Mehar Khan Tiwana in 1862, while his successors include Malik Umar Hayat Khan Tiwana former Major General in British Army, Malik Khizar Hayat Tiwana former Prime Minister of United Punjab, Major Ishaq Tiwana (a decorated pre-partition officer from Royal Indian Army and famous for his exceptional horse-riding skill, honesty and valour), Mr. Razzaq Tiwana (Current Numberdar of Shahpur and a retired Bureaucrat), Chief Engineer Mumtaz Tiwana (famous Merchant Navy Commander), Aasim Tiwana (a well-reckoned Bureaucrat and Current Affairs Anchor on National Media), Malik Khuda Buksh Tiwana (former Minister), Malik Ghulam Muhammad Tiwana (former MNA), Malik Ehsan Ullah Tiwana (former MNA) and Ms. Sidra Tiwana (a federal Bureaucrat of Pakistan).

Other notables of Tiwana clan of Shahpur include Khaliq Yar Tiwana (deceased Army and later Police officer), Asim Yar Tiwana (Fashion Designer), Shoukat Tiwana (retired senior Prisons Officer), Shahzadi Umerzadi Tiwana (former Minister) who is also daughter of former Premier of Punjab Sir Khizar Hayat Tiwana and grand-daughter of General Omar Hayat Tiwana, Major Islam Tiwana (Former Pakistan Army Infantry Officer).

Origins
Mir Ali Khan, the founder of the family, settled at Okhali Mohlah in the district of Khushab in the mid-17th century. In around 1680 his son Mir Ahmad Khan built Mitha Tiwana.

18th century
Mir Ahmad Khan's successors Dadu Khan and Sher Khan continued to build up Mitha Tiwana helping it to become a thriving town in the region. Sher Khan considerably enlarged his territory at the expense of neighbouring Awan tribes and refused to pay tribute to his governors at Dera Ismail Khan. In 1745 he founded the village of Nurpur Tirwana. He later rebelled against Inayat Khan of the Jhang Sials who had placed him in charge of the village of Mari, driving the Sials out of Khai and laying siege to Kot Langar Khan. Inayat Kan would later defeat Sher Khan when he sent an army to relieve the siege. Sher Khan died in 1757, leaving two sons Khan Muhammad Khan and Khan Beg Khan.

Khan Beg Khan usurped his brother Khan Muhammad Khan as chief, when the latter had gone to Jhang to visit kinsmen. Khan Muhmmad subsequently raised an army from Nurpur Tirwana, defeated his brother and imprisoned him. Khan Muhammad was engaged in constant battles with neighbours. He marched on Lal Khan, the Chief of Khushab, opening fire on the town and tying prisoners to the guns to divert the fire of the enemy. Lal Khan called Mahan Singh Sukharchakia, an old friend of Khan Muhammad, to his aid, and Mahan Singh brought a large force compelling Khan Muhammad to retire.

Sikh Empire
Towards the end of his reign Khan Beg once again took up arms against Khan Muhammad. In 1803, Khan Muhammad agreed to pay Maharajah Ranjit Singh a subsidy of one lakh of rupees to defeat Khan Beg. Despite this victory over his brother, in 1804 he was compelled by his son Ahmad Yar Khan to yield the chiefship to him.

In 1817, Maharajah Ranjit Singh sent a force under Misr Diwan Chand against Ahmad Yar Khan, who subsequently submitted to his authority, and was granted the jagir of Jhawrian worth around ten thousand rupees. Hari Singh Nalwa was granted the jagir of Mitha Tiwana in 1819. In 1821, Ahmad Yar Khan marched with the Maharajah against his old enemy the Nawab of Mankera. The Maharajah, impressed by the Tiwana Horse, insisted on a troop of fifty horsemen returning with him to Lahore. Ahmad Yar Khan's brother, Khuda Yar Khan was appointed rough rider to the Maharajah, and superintended his hunting expeditions until his death in 1837. Khuda Yar Khan's son Fateh Khan rose to prominence first serving under Hari Singh Nalwa and then through the patronage of Raja Dhyan Singh. He was involved in the murder of Pashaura Singh alongside Chattar Singh Attariwalla. He was killed at the outset of the Second Anglo-Sikh War by mutineers at his fort of Dalipnagar in Bannu.

British India
A number of members of the family achieved recognition for assistance provided during Indian Rebellion of 1857. Malik Fateh Khan Tiwana rendered service at Hissar and Jhajjar, whilst his cousin Sher Muhammad Khan assisted in the Doaba, Oudh and Bareilly. Each were rewarded with jagirs and the title Khan Bahadur. Another family member Sahib Khan was also elevated to Khan Bahadur, granted nearly nine thousand acres of land in Kalpi and a jagir worth 1,200 rupees. Sahib Khan's son Umar Hayat Khan became a decorated soldier in the British Indian Army and was elected to the Council of the Secretary of State for India. His son Khizar Hayat Tiwana would be the last Premier of the Punjab in British India.

List of Nawab of Shahpur
The hereditary rulers, the Nawab of Shahpur were assisted by a council of local elders. Details of early rulers are uncertain, with the first definite dates from 1650 onwards.

Notable family members

 * Khan Bahadur Malik Fateh Khan Tiwana - Sikh era Politician
 * Khan Bahadur Malik Sahib Khan Tiwana - army officer and large landowner, nephew of Malik Fateh Khan Tiwana
 * Sir Umar Hayat Khan Tiwana - Member of the Council of the Secretary of State for India, son of Malik Sahib Khan Tiwana
 * Sir Khizar Hayat Tiwana - the last Premier of the Punjab, son of Malik Umar Hayat Tiwana
 * Shahzadi Umerzadi Tiwana, politician, daughter of Malik Khizar Hayat Tiwana
 * Saeed Tiwana - Pakistan Army retired Major and recipient of the Sitara-e-Jurat
 * Malik Mehar Khan Tiwana (Council Member & Numberdar 1862)
 * Malik Razaq Tiwana (retired Bureaucrat & Numberdar Shahpur since 1975)
 * Aasim Tiwana (Senior Bureaucrat)
 * Azam Tiwana retired CSO Airport Security Force
 * Ghulam Jillani Tiwana PSP DPO Punjab Police
 * Usman Tiwana Scientific Officer Government of Pakistan
 * Amjad Zubir Tiwana former Chairman FBR
 * Muhammad Zafar Tiwana retired (Deputy Director FESCO Wapda Oct 2023)