The dark specter of Seraiki nationalism in southern Punjab and separatism in Bahawalpur has been looming in the fringes of political machinations in Punjab since the dissolution of the one unit scheme by Yahya Khan in 1970. Before the annexation of the state of Bahawalpur into Punjab in 1955, the huge tract of desertified land was ruled by Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi Bahadur who opted to integrate it with Pakistan in 1947 hoping to keep intact it’s autonomy and provincial status. The Military Regime that took over in 1999 announced devolution as part of its ‘seven point agenda’, 25- 27 new provinces were envisaged on the basis of Pakistan’s 27 administrative units (divisions), the groundwork required for such an ambitious venture was hefty and controversial . The Seraiki Suba Project lies within the fold of the devolution of powers plan and is beset with its own internal conflicts and political frou frou.
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