Teal Hunting in D. I. Khan

8/13/2019 Teal Hunting in D. I. Khan

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TEAL (MURGHABI) HUNTING IN DERA ISMAIL KHAN

9th11thNovember 2012 D. I. Khan, KPK

Shaikh Muhammed li


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pg. 1

Introduction:

Dera Ismail Khan(Urdu,Saraiki: ,Pashto: ), often abbreviatedto D. I. Khan,[1] is acity inKhyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province,Pakistan.It is situated on the west

bank of theIndus River,200 miles (320 km) west ofLahore and 120 miles (190 km) northwestofMultan.[2] The city is the capital of thedistrict andtehsil of the same name.

Etymology

The word "Dera" is derived from theSaraikiword erwhich means "encapment".[3]This word is

commonly used for residential towns in the Indus valley such as Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Bugti, Dera

Murad Jamali, Dera Allah Yar, Dera Ismail Khan, etc. Dera Ismail Khan thus means the residential townof Sardar Ismail Khan Baloch. People of Dera Ismail Khan as well as Dera Ghazi Khan are also known

as Derawal or sometimes as Dervi while the latter is used as Pen name or Takhallus. Historically theDerajat were established at the time when in 15th century, Baloch tribal immigration took place from

Makran, Qalat and Sibi Balochistan, to Indus Valley. Sultan Husain, the Langah Dynasty's Sultans ofMultan, being unable to hold his trans-Indus possessions; called the Baloch tribal warriors, for help and

assigned these territories to Sardar Malik Sohrab Khan Dodai Baloch as "Jagir". Sohrab's sons, GhaziKhan, Ismail khan and Fateh Khan, founded the three Deras or villages' named after them.

Foundation of the city

Dera Ismail Khan was founded toward the end of the fifteenth century by Sardar Ismail Khan Baloch, a

son of Sardar Malik Sohrab Khan Dodai Baloch, who named the town after himself. The original town

was swept away by a flood in 1823, and the existing buildings are all of relatively modern

construction.[2]The present town stands four miles (6 km) back from the permanent channel of theriver.

1

WithAfghanistanto the north,Iranto the southwest, and a reconstituted Al-Qaeda within its own borders,Pakistanis the linchpin of an entire region

shattering in the collision of religious moderates and extremists. Having said that,

it does not mean that life has come to a standstill in Pakistan. We are a resil ient

nation; life indeed goes on and we continue to travel to far off places for

adventure and pleasure.

9thNovember 2012:

I have been away from writing for the last five months for no particular reason.

Mere laziness on my part; I guess although there has been so much to writeabout the places that I have visited, the people I have met, the memories that I

have cherished and new friends that I have made.

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saraiki_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashto_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khyber-Pakhtunkhwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan#cite_note-IGI269-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan_Tehsilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saraiki_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saraiki_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saraiki_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan#cite_note-IGI269-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan#cite_note-IGI269-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan#cite_note-IGI269-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan#cite_note-IGI269-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saraiki_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan_Tehsilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan#cite_note-IGI269-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khyber-Pakhtunkhwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashto_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saraiki_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan


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pg. 2

(The map of Dera Ismail Khan on Wikipedia)

Let me take you on a three day journey toDera Ismail Khanusually called D. I.

Khan or simply Dera by the locals; situated down south in the KPK province. A

very dear friend (Anees Sadozai) and colleagues elder brother Wazirzada

Owais Sadozai was promoted as Company Secretary at one of theDubai

based construction giant inIslamabadand we were thinking that he would

treat us to a sumptuous dinner at theSerena Hotelin Islamabad but he had

made a peculiar plan and invited us for a royal hunting trip at Dera in the last

leg of 2012. It has been ages that I had picked up a gun; leave aside going on a

hunting trip. The offer was so subtle and tempting that refusal was simply not an

option.

We thus chose Friday 9thNovember 2012 to start our escapade. Anees picked

me up around 9:30 a.m. from home and we reached his house where Owaiswas giving final touches to the packing of ammunition and arsenal that we

were to carry for our hunting trip. We leave their house around 10:30 a.m., catch

the M-2 Motorway leading toLahoreand subsequently left the M-2 at the

Balkaser interchange and head west.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serena_Hotelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serena_Hotelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serena_Hotelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serena_Hotelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dera_Ismail_Khan


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pg. 3

(The good old letter boxes which we hardly use these days for communication

after the advent of hand held devices in our lives)

We stop by for Juma prayers around 2:00 p.m. at a location that I was hardly

familiar with. After having quickie snacks at a truck stop we took another break

around 4:30 p.m. for Asr prayers.

(Awais & I at a truck stop; relaxing)

The trip was long and tiring and finally ended up at the Wazirzada house in D. I.

Khan around 5:40 p.m. and after offering our Maghreb prayers at Anees house;

we had a late lunch around 6:00 p.m. and right after lunch we left for the

Shikargah (Hunting spot) at theIndus Riverreaching there in half hour. This, I

found later; was necessary since we had to assess this spot and were supposed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_River


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pg. 5

(None of the birds above are real but are decoys and the one on the pole is

called mojo in the hunting parlance)

I get to learn the hard fact that patience was the name of the game inTealhunting and the entire preparation from 3:30 a.m. onwards was part of the deal.

The first four birds arrive around 6:15 a.m. I must hasten to add that these birds

come fromSiberiato avoid the harsh winters there, and by the time they arrive

they have become weak; stay and graze here for 3 months and return home

when they are very healthy. Another good season to hunt teals is when they are

going back to Siberia in February.

(Shaikh the hiker is now in the boots of Shaikh the hunter)

Anees got over excited, miscalculates the first shot and we lose all four of them. I

would have done the same but somehow resisted. Two more birds come our

way around 6:30 a.m.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tealhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tealhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tealhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teal


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pg. 6

(And finally we shoot down two birds)

Three of us shoot and both the birds were down. We wait till 8:00 a.m., enjoy the

serenity of the mild waters, take pictures, crack jokes but no more birds wanted

to die at our hands.

(From L-R: Myself, Owais and Anees)

We came back to our camp, rest for a while, had vermicellis and tea. We return

home by 10:00 a.m. i.e. after five hours, took a shower, have a dehati (village

like) breakfast and rest.


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pg. 7

(We are on the way back to base camp)

(This is where we had our breakfast)

(This was our make-shift kitchen)


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pg. 8

(Before breakfast, I am resting at the base camp)

Anees father had once told me that he would take me toMusazai,the place

where hisMurshidhailed from and today this dream was supposed to cometrue. We said our Zuhr prayers and then leave for Musazai around 1:30 p.m.

reaching there around 2:45 p.m.

(The signboard at the entrance of the Khanqah)

Musazai is known for the saints that are buried there and is at the confluence of

Darabanand the route which leads toZhobinBaluchistan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musazaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musazaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musazaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murshidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murshidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murshidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darabanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darabanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhobhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhobhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhobhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baluchistan_(Pakistan)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baluchistan_(Pakistan)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baluchistan_(Pakistan)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baluchistan_(Pakistan)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhobhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darabanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murshidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musazai


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pg. 9

(This is the Shajra-e-Nasb [lineage] of the Sufi saints buried here)

We had lunch with Anees younger brothersfather in law Mr. Zahir Achakzai

who resides in Musazai and then visited the graves of the 5 saints from the

Naqshbandi Sufi order, shoot pictures and then return to the Achakzai house

and enjoyed the local hospitality, Qahwa (Green tea) along with local

Kaghazi almonds brought in from Zhob.

(This is the epitaph on the grave of Khawaja Dost Muhammed Qandhari R.A)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naqshbandihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naqshbandi


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pg. 10

We leave Musazai around 5:15 p.m. reaching Dera around 6:45 p.m. After

having a long arduous day, we have our dinner around 8:30 p.m., offer our Isha

prayers and retire by 10:00 p.m.

11thNovember 2012:

Today I got up at 4:00 a.m., said my Tahajjud prayers and we left again for the

hunt reaching there around 5:00 a.m. Four friends of Abdul Rahim (Aneesyoungest brother) greeted us who had been camping there since last night.

(Here are the 4 musketeers who were all a great shot and a wonderful company)

We boarded their boat and sailed to the site. This time around, we had to wade

through the water since it was shallow and the boat could not carry us any

further; which was another interesting experience. We ultimately waddled andreached the site, prepared the hideout, setup the decoys and the mojos by 6:00

a.m.

(Anees and I posing with the decoys in the background)


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pg. 11

By 6:30 a.m. Kashif (aka Commander) downed one teal and that was that. We

waited and waited but luck was not on our side and wound up by 8:15 a.m. and

retreated to our base camp.

On this trip, I was able to make friends with Shahzad Awan, a local lawyer and

Aqeel Ahmed Weha, a Field Coordinator at the UN Food program. This duo was

into serious hunting and later through Facebook I would continue to receivetheir updates on their varied hunting trips.

We had a sumptuous breakfast of Omelets,Parathaand a cup a cha to go with

it. We tried our hands on shooting 9 mm pistols and returned home by 10:00 a.m.

Although we could not hunt birds but the experience in itself was amazing. We

then took showers, relaxed for a while, packed our belongings, offered our Zuhr

prayers by 1:00 p.m. We had lunch around 1:45 p.m. and left Dera forIslamabad

around 2:30 p.m. We stopped by for Asr prayers around 4:00 p.m. enroute to

Talagang.

(This is the mosque where we offered our Asr prayers on the way back home)

We stopped by at Balkaser interchange around 5:30 p.m. for tea and Maghreb

prayers. The journey was getting longer as it could get probably because we

were now tired. We ultimately reached Chakri at 7:30 p.m. on the Motorway

and finally reached Islamabad toll plaza around 8:45 p.m. By the time I reached

home i.e. 10:10 p.m., I was dead tired but we were carrying strong memories ofhunting, love and affection from this trip.

After having dinner with my better half and children who all cuddled up to me, I

retired with a thankful smile on my face. As the saying goes, there is no place

like home and home is where the heart is.

I need to rediscover infinity, and scream a Holy Yes that reverberates through

my pores and pushes me over the edge into the world of poetic traveling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parathahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parathahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parathahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talaganghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talaganghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talaganghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paratha


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pg. 12

longing to see within the ordinary, everyday mud and muck, poems and stories

sacred to the core; to live awake; to recover, to reconnect, to respond, to

rejoice with each breath I takeover and over and over againdespite the

depth of the darkness that prevails around me in the land of the pure i.e.

Pakistan.And Pakistan Zindabad!

Shaikh Muhammed AliThe Wandering ervishE-mail:[email protected]

Cell: +00-92-321-5072996

Thursday, 13thFebruary 2014, 21:11 p.m. (PST)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan

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Teal Hunting in D. I. Khan