IN THE WORLD
On October 16, 1951, during a public meeting, Said Akbar Khan shot the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaqat Ali Kahn in a park in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The assassin was fatally shot by police officers seconds later. Liaquat was rushed to a hospital where he died. Said Akbar's motives to assassinate Liaqat Ali Khan remain unclear as he was shot dead on the spot. Speculation as to Said Akbar's motives seems to lean towards the theory that Babrak was a Pashtun who had hoped that Khan's death would pave the way to a united Pakhtunistan which is strong amongst Pashtuns. 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.