Sayyad Ahmed Shah, also known as Gazi (1786 – May 1831), the son of Mohammed Arfan, was a resident of Baraily. He was a religious zealot. He incited the Muslims against Ranjit Singh’s rule. On December 21, 1826, he attacked the Sikh army but suffered defeat. Again, in 1827, he incited the Muslims of the N.W.F.P., for a Jihad against the empire of Ranjit Singh. He enlisted more then 80 thousand Yusuf Zai’s and about twenty thousand Afghan troops. A battle was fought between his army and the army of Lahore Darbar, led by Budh Singh Sandhanwalia, at Akora, near Attock. In the beginning he made advances but finally he lost the battle. After his defeat he did not loose heart and continued his efforts. On May 6, 1831, he was killed in his last battle against the army of Prince Sher Singh, at Bala Kot (district Hazara).
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)