Diversity and divisions within south Punjab

Nasir Jamal

Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi, Nawab of Bhawalpur. — Photo by PPI

BAHAWALPUR: In April 2011 Salahuddin Abbasi, the heir to the title of the Nawab of Bahawalpur, launched his Bahawalpur National Awami Party (BNAP). The new party was to strive for the revival of the old Bahawalpur state reincarnated as a province. It was to consist of the three southern most districts of Punjab – Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan – as the state of Bahawalpur existed at the time of its merger with Pakistan and before the formation of the One-Unit in 1954 .

Two years later the Nawab is struggling to field his candidates for the May 11 election. He himself decided to stand down after he failed to gain the support of any of the two major political parties – the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. His party, however, says he is not contesting because his younger brother is not well these days.

As a last resort, his party has struck an electoral deal with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the powerful independent candidates like Tariq Bashir Cheema to perk up the chances of its candidates: two for the national assembly and nine for the provincial assembly. The BNAP’s vociferous campaign for the Bahawalpur Sooba overwhelmed by the clamour of bigger players with similar and contrasting agendas, few are prepared to bet on the Nawab’s party for the May 11 race.