Said Akbar Babrak
Said Akbar Babrakzai | |
---|---|
Born | 1921 or 1922 |
Died | 16 October 1951 (aged 29) |
Nationality | Afghan |
Other names | Said Akbar Khan |
Known for | Assassinating Liaqat Ali Khan |
Spouse | Musammat Malmal Bibi |
Children | 2 |
Parent |
|
Military career | |
Allegiance | Mazrak Zadran's rebel forces |
Service years | 1944–1947 |
Wars | Afghan tribal revolts of 1944–1947 |
Said Akbar Khan Babrakzai or Said Akbar Khan (1921 or 1922 – 16 October 1951) was an Afghan tribal militant who assassinated Liaquat Ali Khan, the first prime minister and a leading founding father of Pakistan, at Company Bagh in Rawalpindi, West Punjab, Pakistan on 16 October 1951.
He belonged to the Babrakzai Pashtun tribe of Afghanistan and fought against the Afghan government during the tribal revolts from 1944 to 1947.
Personal life
Said Akbar was born in 1921 or 1922 in Khost, Afghanistan. He was the son of Babrak Khan, a Zadran chieftain. When his father died, Said'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. Said was a minor leader in these revolts, fighting for Mazrak.
Said had two sons, including Dilawar Khan. His wife was Musammat Malmal Bibi.
Assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan
On October 16, 1951, during a public meeting, Said Akbar Khan shot the Prime Minister of Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan twice in a park in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. The assassin was fatally shot by police officers seconds later. Liaquat was rushed to a hospital where he passed away.
Said Akbar's motives to assassinate Liaqat Ali Khan remain unclear as he was shot dead on the spot.
However, there are many conspiracy theories regarding the assassination of Liaqat Ali Khan which claim that Liaqat was assassinated on the 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.
The Afghan government has, however, denied any role in the assassination of Liaqat and also disowned the act of Said Akbar Babrakzai.
Family
Mazar Khan fl. late 19th century | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Babrak Khan d. 1924 or 1925 | Khan Muhammad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mazrak Zadran fl. 1900s – 1972 | Said Akbar Babrak b. 1921 or 1922 d. 16 Oct 1951 | Sher Muhd Khan fl. 1925 – 1947 | Izmair fl. 1925 – 1945 | 5 or 14 others | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dilawar Khan b. 1939 or 1940 | Muhammad Umar Babrakzai fl. 1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- ^ Sources disagree how many sons Babrak had - Jamna Das Akhtar states that Babrak had 18 sons, while a Pakistani government inquiry titled The Assassination of Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan states that Babrak had 9 sons. David B. Edwards states that Babrak had 2 sons, but this appears to be false, as at least 4 of his son's names are known.
- ^ Muhammad Umar Babrakzai was Babrak Khan's grandchild although it's unclear through what father.