Historical background of the Qizilbashs of Lahore

Kanhaiya Lal in his "Tarikh-i-Lahore" (completed in 1882) gives description of six wealthiest families among Muslims of Lahore city. On the top of the list, is a Shia Qizilbash by name of Nawab Ali Raza Khan "Kabuli" who corroborated with British invaders during First Anglo-Afghan war (1839-43). 

Ali Raza Khan Qizilbash fully supported General Polluck's army (which was sent to avenge the earlier defeat of British in Afghanistan). He persuaded Qizilbash chiefs to betray Muhammad Akbar Khan and join British side. He accompanied the returning British army with his sixty sawars and settled in India. 

Ali Raza Khan Qizilbash, his brothers and his sixty sawars fought for British in the Anglo-Sikh wars. In the 1857 war of independence, he sent his contingent to help British on his own expenses. For his services in 1857's war in support of British, he received the title of Nawab and a large estate in Awadh (comprising of 147 villages). He died in 1865 and his body was sent to Karbala (in Iraq) for burial. 

Nawab Nawazish Ali Khan Qizilbash (son of Ali Raza Khan Qizilbash) and cousin, India, 1890.