The air in Jhang was thick with anticipation, a nervous energy that crackled like static before a storm. Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal knew that the success of their resistance hinged not only on the bravery of his own Kharal tribesmen but on the unity of all the disparate groups who felt the sting of British oppression. The task before him was monumental: to forge a cohesive alliance from tribes with long-standing rivalries, differing customs, and varying degrees of willingness to risk everything for freedom.

His first step was to send emissaries, trusted men known for their diplomacy and understanding of tribal ways, to the leaders of the neighboring Sials, Fityanas, and Kathias. Each tribe had its own grievances, its own pride, and its own reasons to hesitate. The Sials, traditionally wary of Kharal dominance, needed assurances that this wasn't simply a power grab disguised as a rebellion. The Fityanas, fiercely independent, valued their autonomy above all else and were reluctant to cede any control to a central command. The Kathias, weakened by past conflicts, feared the might of the British and questioned whether resistance was even possible.