Past History

Before Independence of the subcontinent, the sardars, regardless of the wishes, aspirations and welfare of their tribes, sold their homeland in bits and pieces to the British. Sardar Mehrullah Khan Mam, for instance, executed an agreement on 24 Oct 1885, under which he surrendered  exclusive rights for the exploitation of its petroleum and other mineral wealth to the British and that too for very meager sum of Rs 300 to be increased to Rs 500 per annum.

Jam Meer Khan, Sardar of Lus Beyla, signed an agreement with the British on 21 Dec 1861, under which he permitted them to lay telegraph lines, and guaranteed their security in his area for a sum of Rs 10,000 per mensem. Mir Khudadad Khan, the Khan of Kalat, concluded an agreement, on 8 Jun 1883, by which he entrusted the management of the Quetta District and Niabat, with all the rights and privi1ges as well as full revenue, civil and criminal jurisdiction, with effect from 1 Apr 1883, for an annual payment of Rs 25000. The Bugtis too received an annual allowance of Rs 5520 fur showing good conduct, disciplined behaviour and extending cooperation. Through such series of agreements the British managed to extend their rule over the entire Balochistan by appointing political agents in all districts and by establishing military cantonments at strategic points from where they could launch military operations, as and when needed.

These agreements mark diplomatic success of the British in controlling Balochistan which had earlier defied the mighty Mughals and had never become part of their empire. As such the British established the writ o1 their administration in the region through the heads of the tribes. They avoided direct dealings with the people and made no effort to reform the oppressive tribal system. They adopted the same approach to extend their rule to the rest of the Indian subcontinent. They let the princely states, 465 of them, flourish and rule over their subjects on behalf of the British in exchange for military, financial and diplomatic support. Elsewhere, the British created prototypes of tribes in the form of Jagirdars, turnmandars, landlords, waderas etc to exercise full control over their subjects and ensure loyalty for the Crown by proxy.

In 1947, the people of Balochistan opted for Pakistan with the hope that the dawn of Independence will result in their emancipation and freedom from the sardari yoke. Significantly no Sardar was in the forefront of the Pakistan Movement. Rather some of them. Khan of Kalat for instance, openly declared to remain independent. However, despite the stranglehold of the tribal chiefs, government initiatives towards economic progress, agricultural devek,ment, and provision of educational facilities started to progressively transform the life of the people. Later all political parties voted in favour of the 1973 Constitution and the regionalists, mainly the sardars, stood completely isolated. This marked the beginning of the end of the sardari system. It would have met its Waterloo in course of time had certain political developments not taken place t4at injected fresh life into the dying sardari system.