Raja Himmat Khan Gakhar | Domeli Historical Archive

Raja Himmat Khan Gakhar was a prominent Gakhar chief associated with Domeli in the Jhelum region during the 18th century. Historical accounts identify Himmat Khan of Domeli as a rival of Sultan Mukarrab Khan Gakhar. Following the Sikh conquest of Gujrat in 1765, Mukarrab Khan's power was weakened and he retreated toward the Jhelum region. According to the Rawalpindi District Gazetteer of 1883, Himmat Khan of Domeli captured Mukarrab Khan by treachery and put him to death, after which Himmat Khan assumed the headship of the Gakhar tribe. Other historical accounts similarly describe Himmat Khan as the Domeli Gakhar chief who captured and killed Mukarrab Khan after the latter escaped from Gujrat. The event is an important episode in the history of the Gakhar chiefs of Pothohar and the changing political landscape of the region during the 18th century. Himmat Khan's association with Domeli places him among the notable Gakhar chiefs connected with the historical landholding and chieftaincy traditions of the area. Some details concerning his exact birth, death, ancestry and descendants remain uncertain in publicly available sources. Such genealogical claims should be supported by primary records, family shajras, historical documents or independently published sources