In 1848 he was appointed as Governor of the Hazara province. There he came into conflict with Captain James Abbott the British Deputy Commissioner of the Hazara District. Abbott alleged that Chatar Singh was conspiring to subvert British authority in the Punjab.
Chatar Singh's appointment as governor of the Hazara province led to a confrontation with Captain James Abbott, who alleged that Chatar Singh was attempting to undermine British rule in the Punjab.