During the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's rule of Punjab (1799-1849), Bahawalpur State's Nawab Bahawal Khan Abassi II made several applications to the British Government for an engagement of protection. These were declined, although as a result of the Ranjit Singh's treaties with the British Government (Lahore, 1806 and 1809), whereby Ranjit Singh was confined to the right bank of the Sutlej river, in reality affected his protection. The first treaty with Bahawalpur, however, was much later in 1833 signed by Nawab Bahawal Khan Abassi III, which secured the independence of the Nawab within his territories, and opened the traffic on the Indus and Sutlej rivers.

When Bahawal Khan Abassi III died in 1852, the heir-select (his third son Saadat Khan) succeeded him, taking the name of Sadeq Mohammed Abassi III; but was deposed by the eldest son (Nawab Fateh Khan Abassi), with the aid of the generals. Sadeq Abassi III solicited the aid of the British Government; but the British decided they could only help the Kingdom against external enemies and were not bound to support the chief against internal commotions. Sadeq Abassi III was exiled outside Bahawalpur and signed a treaty in 1853 to relinquish any claims to the Kingdom. But within a year Sadeq Abassi III violated this agreement and was put by the British in strict surveillance at the Lahore Fort, and later died in 1863.

Nawab Fateh Khan Abassi died in 1858 and was succeeded by his son Rahim Yar Khan, who took the name of Bahawal Khan IV. Insurrections against the authority of the Chief broke out in 1863 and subsequent years. In 1866 the Nawab died suddenly, not without suspicion of poison, and was succeeded by his son Sadeq Mohammed Abassi IV, then four years of age. Management of the State was assumed by a representative of the British Government and a British officer was appointed as a political agent. On the outbreak of the war in Afghanistan in 1878, Bahawalpur State placed a military contingent at the disposal of the British Government, and the troops were employed on the frontier.

In 1879 Sadeq Mohammed Abassi IV was invested with full powers of Nawab, and the British Agency was abolished. From 1887 to 1888, Sadeq's son Bahawal Khan Abassi V went to Lahore to study at Chiefs College (Atchison College), and was taught by Sir Rahim Bakhsh, one of the pioneer instructors of the school. Sadeq became friends with Sir Rahim Bakhsh, and later convinced him to move to Bahawalpur State and become its Manager and Political Liaison to the British Agent in Patiala. In 1899 Sadeq Mohammed Abassi IV died, and his son Bahawal Khan Abassi V succeeded as the Nawab. The Coronation Darbar celebrations were organized by Sir Rahim Bakhsh, which were attended by Lord Curzon (Viceroy), Sir James Robert (JR) Dunlop smith (Political Agent of Phulkian States and Bahawalpur), and the Lt. Governor of Punjab. During the minority of Bahawal Khan Abassi IV, the administration of the State was carried on by Colonel L.J.H. Grey, C.S.I, who was Superintendent from February 1899 to April 1903.

In 1907 Bahawal Khan Abassi IV, on his way back from pilgrimage to Mecca, suddenly died at Aden, and was succeeded by by his son of 3 years of age, Sadeq Mohammed Abassi V. During the minority of the young Nawab (1907 to 1922), a Council of Regency was appointed with Sir Rahim Bakhsh as its President. During his Presidency of 17 years, Sir Rahim Bakhsh signed several treaties with neighboring princely states and the Government of India. The first was the Treaty of 1909 for the construction of railways, the southern railway project, in 1913 offering of Bahawalpur State troops at the outbreak of the first World War I with service in Egypt and Iraq, and in 1920 the Sutlej Valley Canals project. In 1922, the young Nawab was vested with full ruling powers, and in 1924 Sir Rahim Bakhsh retired and settled back to his hometown in Karnal.