On this day: Liaquat Ali Khan, Pakistan’s first prime minister was assassinated in Rawalpindi

Today marks the 74th death anniversary of Pakistan’s first prime minister and prominent lawyer, Liaquat Ali Khan. On October 16, 1951, at around 4:30 pm, Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated while delivering a speech at Company Bagh (now known as Liaquat Bagh) in Rawalpindi. 

The attacker, identified as Sayyid Akbar Babrak, an Afghan national, was immediately shot dead by the police at the scene.

The incident remains one of the most significant and mysterious political assassinations in Pakistan’s history.

Although the assailant was killed on the spot, the motives behind the killing continue to remain unresolved. Over the years, multiple theories have emerged to explain the assassination. 

Some point toward personal or ideological grievances, while others suggest the possible involvement of foreign intelligence agencies or domestic political rivals.

Speculations also hinted at regional geopolitical tensions of that era, particularly Pakistan’s strained relations with Afghanistan, the Soviet Union, and Western powers during the early years of the Cold War. 

Others believe the motive may have stemmed from internal power struggles within Pakistan’s own political and military circles.