October 16, 2023, marks the 72nd death anniversary of Pakistan's first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan Shaheed.
He was assassinated in a shocking incident during a public meeting in Rawalpindi on the same day in 1951.
Despite the passage of more than seven decades, the mystery surrounding this tragic event, considered one of the worst in the nation's history, remains unsolved.
The incident took place at Company Bagh in Rawalpindi, later renamed Liaquat Bagh in honor of the late Prime Minister.
According to the FIR registered at Police Station D Division Rawalpindi, Khan Liaqat Ali Khan had just started addressing the public when an individual sitting in front of the dais fired two or three shots at him with a pistol.
The Prime Minister fell to the stage due to the bullets, and the assassin, Syed Akbar, was killed on the spot.
Liaquat Ali Khan: Pakistan's Founding Hero and First Prime Minister
Liaquat Ali Khan, often referred to as "Shaheed-e-Millat" (Martyr of the Nation), was a pivotal figure in the early history of Pakistan.
Born on October 1, 1895, in Karnal, India, he played a crucial role in the movement for Pakistan's independence and served as the country's first Prime Minister.
Liaquat Ali Khan was a close associate of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan.
He played an instrumental role in advocating for the rights of Muslims in British India and championed the cause of a separate homeland for Muslims, which eventually led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
As Pakistan's first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan faced numerous challenges, including stabilizing the newly formed nation, forging diplomatic relationships, and addressing the socioeconomic needs of the people.
Tragically, his life was cut short when he was assassinated in 1951 in Rawalpindi, a mystery that remains unsolved to this day.
Eyewitness recalls the tragic incident
An eyewitness to the tragic event, 98-year-old Abdul Majeed Kanwal, still remembers the circumstances and events of the meeting as deeply suspicious.
Kanwal, who was present at the public meeting, vividly recalls the harrowing scene.
He described the atmosphere as “strange and suspicious”.
The nation continues to commemorate the life and legacy of Liaquat Ali Khan Shaheed, a prominent figure in Pakistan's history, while the circumstances surrounding his tragic death remain enshrouded in mystery.
