In the not too distant past, a craze to change the names of some cities had got the better of our rulers so names of many cities were changed. Lyallpur got new name of Faisalabad, Montgomery Sahiwal , Campbelpur Attack so on and so forth. When elders of Abbottabad got inkling of it they called upon the then DC and told him that Abbot was a Scott but he loved the place where he is posted as DC. Not only did he create this district he worked very hard to develop it foursquare. His immense love for this place can be gleaned from every word of his poem which he rendered on the occasion of his transfer from it, show how deeply was he in love with it, therefore they would not like to see name of Abbotabad changed. That poem still hangs in a frame on the wall of DC Abbotabad office. That timely intervention of the local elders saved Abbotabad from the change in its name. In the same manner, Balochistan had once a very popular people friendly Commissioner by the name of Robert Sandeman. He dwelt in the hearts of local Sardars and common men so much that when he died they appealed to the powers that be at that time that his dead body be burried in Balochistan instead of taking it to Britain for burial and they even gave gratis burial place for his tomb too on their land. In deference to their desire he was laid to eternal rest in Lasbela. For a long, long time Zhob was also used to be called as Fort Sandeman in his memory.
Old names of cities are our historical heritage which should not be altered without any cogent rhyme and reason.
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