Ghazi Chak started his regal career with discretion, and devoted his attention to the removal of evils which had, for long, paralysed the administration of the country. Ghazi Chak re-conquered or annexed such territories as had fallen off from the kingdom. In this attempt, he attained marked success in recovering Skardu, Gilgit, Kishtwar, Pakhli and Mangli, besides bringing into subjection the chief of the Gakkhars. In order to ensure efficient administration of these territories, he appointed experienced and intelligent governors to control them.
Ghazi was a just but somewhat stern ruler. In meeting out justice, he showed no compassion even to his Kith and Kin. Once a servant belonging to his son, Haider Khan, plucked ‘unnab'(fruit of the jujube tree) while accompanying the Sultan. The Sultan observed this act of pilfering, and had the delinquent’s hands cut off, a punishment which both grieved and incensed Haider Khan. Later on, when Gazi Chak sent Muhammad Malik, the youth’s uncle, to admonish him for the sullenness he had displayed, the youth, in a fit of rage, stabbed his uncle. On this, Ghazi Chak caused him to be hanged, and his remains were exhibited on the gibbet for eight days.
Ghazi’s sternness roused his own tribesman against him. Nusrat Chak and Yousuf Chak, sons of Rigi Chak, rose in rebellion against him, but were successfully repressed. Later on, Shankar Chak, Bahram Chak and Fath Chak, sons of Rigi Chak,-who by the way, had seven or more sons- raised the standard of revolt at Sopor, but were defeated and dispersed. Then, Shams Raina, son of ‘Idi Raina and the grandson of Musa Raina, whom we met under Fath Shah to seek help from Humayun. Unfortunately for him, however,Humayun died as the result of a fall on the day of his arrival. On his return, he met Abu’l Maáli, Humayun’s favourite, who had been driven out by Bairam Khan, and had found refuge in the mountains of Gakkhar. Shams Raina induced him to invade Kashmir. Encouraged by the previous success of Mirza Haider Dughlat. Abu’l Maali proceeded to invade Kashmir without hesitation. Ghazi Chak, however, won over Sayyid Ibrahim Baihaqi and his followers to his side, and successfully defeated the invaders. Shams Raina’s brother Muhammad Raina next year led a joint insurrection of the Rainas and some affected Chaks, but sustained a defeat.
In 1559, Ghazi’s possession of the throne was again disturbed by Qara Bahadur, cousin of Mirza Haider Dughlat, whom Yusuf Chak the son of Rigi Chak and others had induced to fight. It is stated that Qara Bahadur took 10,000 horse with him. The battle took place in the Rajauri mountains. Ghazi Chak advanced in person to meet the enemy, and promised his men a gold coin for each head captured. The king was completely victorious, and 7,000 heads were presented to him after the engagement. It is said that he exceeded this promise and disturbed two gold coins per head.
Ghazi Chak was an able and energetic ruler. He was also a poet. After reigning for over eight years, he abdicated the throne in favour of his brother Husain Chak on account of a very severe form of leprosy who prostrated him for about two years after which he died.
Some time after his abdication, he divided equally his effects and gave half to his son and other descendants, while he sent the other half to the merchants for sale. The price he demanded for these effects from the merchants was so exorbitant that they complained to Husain Shah, who, on taking the matter up with Ghazi Chak, so angered him that he sought to re-establish himself but was cleverly checkmated by Husain Shah. Some time later, Husain Shah, for reasons of personal safety and removing a rival from his path, thought of putting out the eyes of Ahmad Khan, Ghazi Chak’s Son. Ghazi naturally interceded for his son but failed, and died of a broken heart.
Reference:
Sufi,G.M.D (1996). Kashmir Under The Mughals. Kashir: Being A History Of Kashmir(pp.219-221) Delhi:Capital Publishing House.
