The name derives from Kalakani's nickname, Bacha-e Saqaw (Persian: بچه سقاو; literally son of the water carrier).

[11] Habibullāh Kalakāni began resistance against the government of Amanullah Khan in 1924, after he deserted from the Royal Afghan Army, which at the time was fighting against the Khost rebellion.

[8] Kalakani began a life of banditry, since he considered the occupations common among the Kuhdamanis, like viticulture and selling firewood, to be beneath him, reasoning that these could hardly ever provide wheat bread for his table.

For three years, they lived in mountain caves, venturing out during the day to rob and hiding out at night, all the time fearful of government retaliation.

[8] In November 1928, while a Shinwari revolt was occurring in Jalalabad, the Saqqawists besieged Jabal al-Siraj, beginning the Afghan Civil War.

One such incident took place on 28 June 1929, when Saqqawists attacked the Hazara settlement of Qalah-i Karim, looted anything movable and drove off livestock.

[19] Another incident, which took place on 23 July 1929, was described by the contemporary Afghan historian Fayz Muhammad as follows:[20] Today, the Shiite sayyid Abu'l-Qasim, who had a house and plot of land in Takanah, prepared loaves of bread made from one and a half Kabuli seers of flour, a skin of fresh buttermilk, some oil, and a roasted sheep he had slaughtered at midday.

Hamid Allah, the tyrant's younger brother, came running from the battlefield to participate in torching the fort, ransacking the sayyid's belongings, and seizing his wives and children.