The Historic Gates of Bannu City
The ancient gates of Bannu City were constructed during British rule after Colonel Henry Edwardes took control of Bannu in 1848. The foundation had initially been laid by the last Sikh governor, Lipper Singh, but the British authorities redesigned the city and transformed it into a fortified settlement to protect it from tribal raids and external threats. A strong boundary wall was built around the city, and several entry and exit gates were established in different directions. During the British era, these gates held both commercial and military significance. Trade caravans, soldiers, and citizens passed through them daily while entering or leaving the city. Guards and security personnel were permanently stationed at the gates. According to British records, these gates served as key points for maintaining security, surveillance, and public order within the city. After the creation of Pakistan, the city walls gradually disappeared, but the memory and historical importance of these gates remain alive in the hearts of local people. They stand as symbols of Bannu’s rich heritage and of a time when the city existed as a fortified settlement. The gates were named after nearby areas and communities, including Hoved Gate, Hanjal Gate, Lakki Gate, Qassaban Gate, and others. Later, Deputy Commissioner Ali Asghar ordered the demolition of these historic landmarks under a beautification initiative. Perhaps he believed that if the British were gone, the gates they had built should disappear as well.
