Las Bela (princely state)

Las Bela (Urdu: ریاست 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.

This article is about the former State of Las Bela. For other uses, see Lasbela (disambiguation).

Las Bela
Princely state of Pakistan
1742–1955
Flag

Map of Pakistan with Las Bela highlighted
CapitalBela
Area 
• 
18,254 km2 (7,048 sq mi)
History 
• Established
1742
• Disestablished
14 October 1955
Today part ofBalochistan, Pakistan
Map of the Baluchistan Agency.
This article is part of the series
Former administrative units of Pakistan
Original provinces
Princely states
One-unit provinces
Other subdivisions

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 1962, 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 are Baloch and Sindhis . The population was mainly Muslim Baloch and Sindhis but there was a small population of Hindus.

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 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".

TenureJams of Las Bela[1]
1742–1765Jam Ali Khan I (surnamed Kathuria)
1765–1776Jam Ghulam Shah
1776–1818Mir Khan I
1818–1830Ali Khan II
1830–1869Mir Khan II (CIE, KCIE) (1st time)
1869–1886Sir Ali Khan III (KCIE) (1st time)
1886 - 21 January 1888Sir Mir Khan II (KCIE) (2nd time)
21 January 1888 - May 1896Sir Ali Khan III (2nd time)
May 1896 - March 1921Kamal Khan (CIE)
March 1921 - 1937Ghulam Mohammad Khan (GCIE)
1937 - 14 October 1955Ghulam Qadir Khan (CIE)
14 October 1955State of Las Bela dissolved
14 October 1955 - 10 September 1988Ghulam Qadir Khan (Jam of lasbela)
10 September 1988 - 3 February 2013Jam Mohammad Yousaf (Jam of lasbela)
3 February 2013 - to dateJam Kamal Khan (Jam of lasbela)

Prominent members of the family after the end of the princely state included:

See also

References
  1. Ben Cahoon, WorldStatesmen.org. "Pakistan Princely States". Retrieved 3 October 2007.
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