MUHAMMAD KHAN NUMBERDAR BUMBRA

Muhammad Khan Numberdar (1918–2019)

A Century of Leadership, Honour and Service

Muhammad Khan Numberdar belonged to the historically distinguished Bumbra family, a family known for its ancestral landholding and public service. The title of Numberdar was originally awarded to their forefathers during the Mughal era as recognition of loyalty, land stewardship, and leadership among the local tribes. This honour remained with the family for generations and continued in the person of Muhammad Khan Numberdar, who carried this legacy with grace, sincerity, and an exemplary sense of duty.

He was born in 1918 to Atta Ullah Khan Bumbra and passed away on 23rd January 2019 at the age of 101, having witnessed more than a century of change, struggle, and development in the region.

Lineage and Legacy

The Bumbra family is regarded with respect and trust throughout the area due to its long-standing tradition of public service, fairness, and guardianship of agricultural lands.
The family lineage leading down to him is recorded as follows:

Nusrat Khan → Alawul Khan → Khan Sipahi → Mohabbat Khan → Bahadur Khan → Sikandar Khan → Bahadur Khan → Ahmed Khan (Numberdar) → Muhammad Khan (Numberdar) → Sultan Khan (Numberdar) → Atta Ullah Khan → Muhammad Khan (1918–2019) → Muhammad Farooq Khan (Present Numberdar)

Thus, the title of Numberdar has passed consistently through the family line and is today held by his grandson, Muhammad Farooq Khan, who continues this traditional role of local leadership.

A Life Rooted in Land and Labour

Muhammad Khan had a deep and heartfelt connection with his ancestral lands.
He was not merely a landowner — he was a guardian of the soil and a custodian of agricultural tradition.

He:

Maintained his inherited lands with great dedication
Expanded the family estate with personal hard work
Upheld agricultural values and traditional methods
Created livelihood opportunities for many local families

Through his efforts, he became widely recognized as a respected landholder and farmer, a man whose name was trusted and whose decisions earned the confidence of the people.

Role as Numberdar and Community Leader

Being a Numberdar was not only a title—it was a position of responsibility and community trust.
Throughout his lifetime:

He resolved local disputes through wisdom and fairness
Acted as a bridge between the government and the village community
Ensured justice, peace, and social harmony
Protected the rights of farmers and landowners
Served as a voice for his people in administrative matters
Represented moral authority and local tradition

Through his leadership style, Muhammad Khan preserved the dignity and values of the traditional Numberdari system.

Continuation of the Legacy

Today, his family remains known throughout the area as the Numberdar family, carrying forward his legacy of responsibility, fairness, and service to the community.
His grandson Muhammad Farooq Khan now upholds this ancestral duty as the current Numberdar.

The life of Muhammad Khan Numberdar is more than a biography — it is a living testimony to leadership with humility, service without expectation, and honour rooted in tradition.

He spent more than a century of life as a protector of his land, a voice for his people, and a custodian of cultural dignity.

His memory stands as an inspiration, reminding future generations that true leadership is measured not by power, but by trust, justice, and service.

Sufi Muhammad Iqbal Khan Bumbra (1940 – 10 January 2013)
A Life of Piety, Service and Devotion

Sufi Muhammad Iqbal Khan Bumbra, son of Numberdar Muhammad Khan Bumbra, was born in 1940 in Isa Khel into a noble and spiritually inclined landowning family of the Bumbra (Niazi) tribe. He belonged to a deeply respected lineage rooted in courage, leadership and public welfare.

Character and Spiritual Inclination

Sufi Muhammad Iqbal Khan was known for his simplicity, bravery, gentleness and deep attachment to faith. He was a devout Muslim, strictly observant of prayer, and a sincere lover of the Holy Prophet ﷺ. His life reflected humility, contentment, and dedication to religious service.

Religious and Social Services

He actively participated in religious causes and remained closely involved in the affairs of the local community. He served as:

✅ Mutawalli (caretaker) of both the Adha Wali Noorani Mosque and the Bazaar Mosque in Isa Khel
✅ A respected member and office bearer of Ahl-e-Sunnat wal Jamaat
✅ A leading supporter of welfare projects and public-interest work in the town

He helped resolve community issues, promoted religious gatherings, supported mosques and madrassas, and personally assisted the poor and needy. He lived not for name or fame, but for the pleasure of Allah and service to His creation.

A Life Devoted to People

Throughout his life, Sufi Muhammad Iqbal Khan was known as:

A man of prayer and spiritual discipline
A lover of peace and reconciliation
A benefactor of the community
A man whose presence brought comfort to others

He guided people through his gentle advice, moral conduct and personal example rather than speeches or publicity.

Passing and Legacy

After a brief illness, he passed away on 10 January 2013. His death was widely mourned in Isa Khel, as the town felt it had lost a man of compassion, faith and true humility.May Allah grant him the highest ranks in Jannat-ul-Firdous.Ameen.

Family Legacy

His spiritual and social tradition continues today through his family. His son, Muhammad Farooq Khan (Numberdar), carries forward the same commitment to public service and community leadership.

Muhammad Aslam Khan

A Humble Soul, A Traveller of Faith

Aslam Khan Niazi was a man of refined taste, deep observation, and rare aesthetic sense. He was not merely fond of photography — he loved it from the very soul of his heart. At a time when very few people in rural areas had access to quality cameras, Aslam Khan possessed the legendary Yashica Mat 635 equipped with Lumaxar lenses, a professional machine that only true photography enthusiasts valued and understood.

Through this camera, he preserved priceless visual history — weddings, family events, village life, and cultural moments that would otherwise have faded away with time. Today, the younger generation recalls their elders and lost moments through the old photographs captured by him. These photographs are not just prints — they are time capsules, an emotional archive of identity and belonging, and undoubtedly a great family and cultural asset.

A Life Beyond Landed Tradition

While belonging to a respected landowning and Numberdar family, Muhammad Aslam Khan lived a life rooted in humility and self-reliance:

Preferred hard work over inherited privilege
Lived among people with love rather than formality
Was deeply social, lively, and easygoing
Known for strong moral character and gentleness

He was also very close to Atta Ullah Khan Isa Khelvi, and the two shared a deep bond of friendship, spending much of their time together in companionship.But his contribution did not end with imagery. Aslam Khan was also a quiet cultural ambassador and sincere admirer of Attaullah Khan Isa Khelvi at a very early stage of his career, long before fame and formal music recognition came. He recorded his voice on cassettes repeatedly and made sure they were played in buses, trucks, and roadside dhabas through drivers and friends travelling across regions. These cassettes travelled farther than he ever did physically — and through them, Attaullah’s voice reached the common people, carrying the fragrance of Isa Khel to faraway towns and villages.

Professor Munawar Ali Malik, in his famous book “Dard Ke Safeer”, also acknowledges how such devoted listeners paved the emotional route for Attaullah’s popularity. Their love was not commercial — it was pure admiration, born from a shared cultural spirit. Aslam Khan was one of those silent promoters whose heartfelt effort helped build the earliest audience for a voice that later became a national treasure.

Journey to Saudi Arabia (1977–1980)

In 1977, Muhammad Aslam Khan travelled to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where he worked as a professional driver. His years in Saudi Arabia strengthened his spiritual connection to the Holy Land:

He performed Hajj
Frequently visited Makkah and Madinah on weekends
Lived a life of worship, simplicity, and gratitude

Passing and Legacy

On 15 September 1980, while still in Tabuk, he suffered a heart attack and passed away. His death so far from home left a deep emotional impact on his family and all who knew him.

Despite his relatively short life, his memory lived on because of his purity of character and sincerity. His personality and way of life were beautifully described by Munawar Ali Malik in his book “Dard ke Safeer”, which stands as a literary tribute to his gentle soul.

How He is Remembered

Muhammad Aslam Khan is remembered as:

A man of clean heart and pure intentions
Friendly, soft-spoken, and deeply humane
Spiritually inclined and content with simple living
A symbol of modesty, devotion, and brotherhood

Unlike many who seek power or authority, he chose a life of humility and honesty — and through this, he earned a place of lasting respect in the hearts of people.

Hayat Ullah Khan — The Heir of Legacy, Labour, and Loyalty

Hayat Ullah Khan carries a name rooted deeply in family history. The name “Hayat Ullah” had been part of his ancestral lineage for generations — a name that symbolized life, continuity, and honour in the Bumbra-Numberdar family. As the elder son of Aslam Khan Niazi, he inherited not only his father’s name but also his spirit — a rare combination of sincerity, humility, and hard work.

Early Life and Influence of His Father

Born and raised in Isa Khel, Hayat Ullah Khan grew up under the affectionate guidance of his father, Aslam Khan Niazi — a man admired for his honesty, humility, and artistic love for photography and culture.
Aslam Khan’s simple yet inspiring lifestyle left a lasting mark on his son. He learned from his father that dignity is not in wealth but in work, and that service to others defines one’s true worth.

When his father tragically passed away in 1980 in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, Hayat Ullah Khan was still young. The sudden loss changed his life, but he faced it with courage and faith, holding close to his father’s memory and values.

Journey to Karachi — Following His Father’s Footsteps

To honour his father’s legacy, Hayat Ullah Khan decided to follow his path and moved to Karachi, Pakistan’s largest metropolitan city. There, he entered the field of driving and transport, just as his father had done.

Life in Karachi was not easy — it demanded discipline, hard work, and perseverance — but he faced every challenge with determination. His sincerity and reliability earned him respect among colleagues, and he soon became known as a dependable and honest worker in the city’s demanding transport sector.

Return to Isa Khel — A New Chapter in Life

After spending a few years in Karachi, circumstances brought him back home. His mother was living alone in Isa Khel, and as the eldest son, he took upon himself the responsibility of caring for her and the family lands.

Returning to his roots, he turned towards agriculture, reviving the family’s connection with the soil. His dedication transformed the inherited land into a productive and prosperous source of livelihood.
Even as he worked in the fields, he never lost his father’s instinct for mobility and transport.

The Transport Enthusiast and Manager

Though now a cultivator and agriculturist, the passion for transport remained alive within him. To keep that part of his father’s legacy alive, Hayat Ullah Khan continued to work with well-known transport companies as a manager. His deep understanding of vehicles, routes, and human management made him a valuable asset in the transport sector.

He built a reputation for:

Reliability and fairness in management
Strong professional ethics
Balancing land and business with equal devotion

In both agriculture and transport, he carried forward the same family values — honesty, dedication, and humility.

Character and Legacy

Hayat Ullah Khan is remembered by friends and associates as:

A man of calm temperament and clear conscience
Deeply attached to his roots, yet open to progress
Faithful to his family’s honour and reputation
A bridge between the traditions of the past and the needs of the modern age

Through his life, he has shown that true inheritance is not merely land or name — it is the moral strength and responsibility one carries forward.

From the dusty roads of Karachi’s transport routes to the fertile fields of Isa Khel, Hayat Ullah Khan’s journey reflects both movement and stability — an unbroken link between the hardworking past of his father and the steady present of his own life.

In him lives the essence of the Bumbra-Numberdar lineage — commitment to work, respect for heritage, and devotion to family.

Muhammad Abid Khan Bumbra

A Gentleman of Knowledge, Service and Compassion

Among the new generation of the Bumbra family, Muhammad Abid Khan stands out as a man who successfully combined education, professionalism, and family legacy in a remarkable way. He is the younger son of Muhammad Aslam Khan Niazi, whose humility, purity of character, love for photography, and cultural devotion left a lasting imprint not only on his family but also on the community of Isa Khel.

From his father, Abid Khan inherited kindness, simplicity, and a helping nature, but he also built upon these qualities with a strong academic foundation and modern professional experience.

Early Education and Academic Excellence

From his earliest years, Abid Khan proved himself a brilliant and disciplined student.
He passed his Matric examination from Isa Khel with distinction, earning appreciation from both teachers and the community. He later completed his FSc and continued his higher studies in Multan, where he completed a BSc in Chemical Sciences, becoming a Chemical Engineer — a remarkable achievement at a time when very few students from the region pursued specialized engineering fields.

His success in education brought pride to his family and became a source of inspiration for younger students of Isa Khel.

Professional Career — From Engineering to National Service

After completing his education, he joined Pakistan Atomic Energy, one of the most prestigious and sensitive national scientific institutions of the country. His selection reflected both his academic merit and personal integrity.

However, much like his father, Abid Khan carried a passion rooted not in titles, but in service, connection, and practical life. Inspired by his father’s legacy in transport and mobility, he opted for early retirement from a stable government career — a bold decision made not for personal gain, but out of respect and continuity of family values.

Return to Transport — Honouring His Father’s Legacy

Just as his father, Aslam Khan, spent his life around roads, people, travel, and simple honest work, Muhammad Abid Khan returned to the transport sector, taking it to a modern and managerial level. He worked with some of the top and most reputable transport companies of Pakistan, including:

Niazi Express (as General Manager)
Bilal Travels / Bilal Express
And other well-known national operators

Through these roles he brought:

Professional discipline
Ethical management
A culture of fairness and respect for passengers & workers alike

He was widely trusted because of his father’s name and his own honourable conduct.

Entrepreneurship and Service in the Hometown

After gaining vast managerial experience in Pakistan’s transport industry, he returned to Isa Khel, yet again showing attachment to his roots and people. Today he also runs a Tyre shop in Isa Khel, where he is not merely a businessman but a social helper and well-wisher for the local community.

He is known as a man who:

Always helps others solve their problems
Offers guidance to youth regarding jobs and livelihood
Treats people with warmth and respect
Prefers relationships over material gain

Because of his polite nature, humility and open-heartedness, the younger generation especially admires him and feels comfortable approaching him for support or advice.

Reflection of His Father’s Personality

In many ways, Muhammad Abid Khan is a living continuation of his father, Aslam Khan Niazi:

Father (Aslam Khan Niazi)	Son (Muhammad Abid Khan)
Humble, sincere, and soft-hearted	Humble, approachable, and polite
Love for people & culture	Love for community service
Transport-oriented life	Transport management & leadership
Preserved memories through photos	Preserves goodwill through action
Quiet promoter of others’ success	Supporter & guide to the young

The values of honesty and kindness he displays are the same values his father lived by.

Muhammad Abid Khan Bumbra represents a rare blend of education, humility, and tradition. He rose through academic merit to the level of national service in atomic energy, yet remained grounded enough to return to his father’s way of life — not out of necessity, but out of respect, continuity, and love for his heritage.

He is not only a successful professional, but more importantly, a good human being — someone whose presence benefits others, and whose character reflects both past honour and future promise.

Zargham Ali Khan — A Young Custodian of Heritage and Tradition

Zargham Ali Khan, belonging to the Bumbra family of Isa Khel, is the son of Muhammad Abid Khan Bumbra and the grandson of the late Muhammad Aslam Khan Niazi. He represents the new generation of his family that carries forward the legacy of humility, service, and respect for ancestral values.

Currently a university student, Zargham beautifully balances his academic life with practical engagement in the family business, where he assists his father with dedication and a strong sense of responsibility. These early experiences are shaping him into a mature, capable, and far-sighted young leader.