Las Bela (princely state)
Las Bela (Urdu: لسبیلہ) was a princely state in a subsidiary alliance with British India (later a princely state of Pakistan) which existed until 1955. The state occupied an area of 18,254 km2 (7,048 sq mi) in the extreme southeast of the Balochistan region, with an extensive coastline on the Arabian Sea to the south. Las Bela was bordered by the princely states of Kalat and Makran to the north and west. To the east lay the province of Sind and to the southeast lay the Federal Capital Territory around the city of Karachi.
| Las Bela | |
|---|---|
| Princely state of Pakistan | |
| 1742–1955 | |
Flag | |
Map of Pakistan with Las Bela highlighted | |
| Capital | Bela |
| Area | |
• | 18,254 km2 (7,048 sq mi) |
| History | |
| History | |
• Established | 1742 |
• Disestablished | 14 October 1955 |
| Today part of | Balochistan, Pakistan |
History
The State of Las Bela was founded in 1742 by Jam Ali Khan I. His descendants ruled Las Bela until 1955 when the state became part of West Pakistan. The statement of Ghulam Qadir Khan the last Jam of Las Bela on signing the accession was:
We hold historical ties with Sindh and share strongest cultural bond with the Province. Our People have accepted Jinnah Sahab as the leader of new Muslim homeland and we vote to emerge in Pakistan.
For a period of three years between 3 October 1952 and 14 October 1955, Las Bela was part of the Baluchistan States Union but retained internal autonomy. In 1955, Las Bela was incorporated into the new province of West Pakistan and became part of Kalat division. In 1960, the area of Las Bela was detached from Kalat division and merged with the former Federal Capital Territory to form the division of Karachi-Bela. When the provincial system was changed in 1970, Las Bela became part of the new province of Balochistan.
Demographics
The main ethnic groups in Las Bela were Baloch. The population was mainly Muslim Balochs but there was a small population of Hindus. There were also nomadic Lasi people near the Sindh border.
Geography and climate
Las Bela has a hot, dry tropical desert climate. It is only a few degrees north of the Tropic of Cancer. The sea breezes though make the weather less extreme than inland Balochistan, where temperatures can reach 50 °C (122 °F) in the summer.
Rulers
The hereditary rulers of Las Bela were styled as Jam Sahib. The Samma Dynasty took the title of Jam, the local equivalent of "King" or "Sultan".
| Tenure | Jams of Las Bela[1] |
|---|---|
| 1742–1765 | Jam Ali Khan I (surnamed Kathuria) |
| 1765–1776 | Jam Ghulam Shah |
| 1776–1818 | Mir Khan I |
| 1818–1830 | Ali Khan II |
| 1830–1869 | Mir Khan II (CIE, KCIE) (1st time) |
| 1869–1886 | Sir Ali Khan III (KCIE) (1st time) |
| 1886 - 21 January 1888 | Sir Mir Khan II (KCIE) (2nd time) |
| 21 January 1888 - May 1896 | Sir Ali Khan III (2nd time) |
| May 1896 - March 1921 | Kamal Khan (CIE) |
| March 1921 - 1937 | Ghulam Mohammad Khan (GCIE) |
| 1937 - 14 October 1955 | Ghulam Qadir Khan (CIE) |
| 14 October 1955 | State of Las Bela dissolved |
| 14 October 1955 - 10 September 1988 | Ghulam Qadir Khan (Jam of lasbela) |
| 10 September 1988 - 3 February 2013 | Jam Mohammad Yousaf (Jam of lasbela) |
| 3 February 2013 - to date | Jam Kamal Khan (Jam of lasbela) |
Prominent members of the family after the end of the princely state included:
- Jam Ghulam Qadir Khan former Chief Minister of Balochistan province.
- Jam Mohammad Yousaf former Chief Minister of Balochistan province.
- Jam Ali Akbar former Provincial Minister of Balochistan province.
- Jam Kamal Khan Former chief minister of Balochistan and speaker of provincial assembley of Balochistan.
See also
References
- ^ Ben Cahoon, WorldStatesmen.org. "Pakistan Princely States". Retrieved 3 October 2007.