Saad Akbar Babrak


Saad Akbar Khan Babrak or Saad Akbar Babrak was an Afghan militant. He was an ultra-nationalist Pashtun and was also responsible for the assassination of the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaqat Ali Khan, in Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, on October 16, 1951.

Personal life

Saad was born in 1921 or 1922 in Khost, Afghanistan. He was the son of Babrak Khan, a Zadran chieftain. When his father died, Saad's brother, Mazrak became the new chief. Mazrak would fight against the Afghan government during the Afghan tribal revolts of 1944–1947 to support the restoration of King Amanullah Khan. Saad was a minor leader in these revolts, fighting for Mazrak.
Saad had two sons, including Dilawar Khan. His wife was Musammat Malmal Bibi.

Assassination of Liaqat Ali Khan

On October 16, 1951, during a public meeting, Saad Akbar Khan shot Liaqat twice in a park in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The assassin was fatally shot by police officers seconds later. Liaqat was rushed to a hospital where he died.
Babrak’s motives to assassinate Liaqat Ali Khan remain unclear as he was shot dead on the spot. Speculation as to Babrak’s motives seem to lean towards the theory that Babrak was a Pashtun ultra-nationalist who had hoped that Khan’s death would pave the way to a united Pakhtunistan. However, there are many conspiracy theories regarding the assassination of Liaqat Ali Khan which claim that Liaqat was assassinated on behest of foreign powers. Some say it was a reaction from the Soviet Union for his anti-communist and pro-western policies, while others blame the USA for ordering the killing due to Khan’s alleged non-cooperation on the Iranian issue and an alleged demand for the US to vacate its airbases in Pakistan.
Afghan government has, however, denied any role in the assassination of Liaqat and also disowned the act of Akbar Babrak.

Family