BAHAWALPUR, Feb 23: The eldest grandson of late Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi (the fifth), Dr Rahim Yar Abbasi, deputy registrar (public relations) at the Islamia University , has proposed that books, manuscripts and other printed material of the Sadiqgarh palace should be handed over to the university.

The university was founded by the late Nawab in the name of 'Jamia Abbasia' in 1925. In a letter addressed to implementation committee chairman Justice Qadeeruddin Ahmad (retired) on Monday, Dr Rahim said the palace's library had rare scripts of the Holy Quran, late Nawab's correspondence with the British government, and documents about the Quaid-i-Azam, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Sir Agha Khan, and other Muslim and Hindu leaders of the subcontinent.

Besides, there were other important documents and agreements signed on various occasions with the government of Pakistan, particularly the annexation of the defunct state with Pakistan.

He proposed that all the historic material and documents should be preserved at a centre to be established under the name of 'Abbasaid studies research centre' at the university.

Dr Rahim also proposed that the articles of the palace museum known a 'Sultani Museum,' including state coins, stamps and medals, should be preserved in a separate portion of the proposed research centre.

Meanwhile, another grandson of the Nawab has proposed to the archaeology department and the cultural ministry to examine the historic palaces of the Nawab and purchase those for their conservation.

Talking to newsmen, Sahibzada Qamaruzzaman Abbasi, son of late princess Khadeja Abbasi, expressed his gratitude to the prime minister for speeding up the process of the property's distribution. He urged the MNAs and government officials not to make any sort of recommendation in the distribution of the property among 23 legal heirs and their nearly 70 descendants.

He also asked the members of his family not to politicize the issue and cooperate with the implementation committee so that the distribution process could be completed without delay.

Mr Abbasi said the precious articles of the Noor Mahal, which were purchased by the Pakistan army at a cost of about Rs120 million over two years ago, were dumped there.

He stressed that the administration should shift this costly material of the Noor Mahal to the Sadiqgarh palace for its further distribution among the legal heirs and descendants.

He stated that the properties in Bahawalpur and Ahmedpur East (Dera Nawab Sahib), and the Gulzar Mahal, which were currently in the possession of army, should either be purchased by army for further distribution among the legal heirs or left by it so that their prices could be shared by the legal claimants.

Answering a question about the missing valuables and antiques worth millions of rupees, he said the legal descendants had no knowledge of those articles and the government should investigate the matter. The government, which was the custodian of late Sir Sadiq's property, should compensate the heirs for this loss, he said.