Liaquat Ali Khan, who had served as Pakistan's first Prime Minister since its independence in 1947, was delivering a speech at Company Bagh (Company Gardens) in Rawalpindi when he was shot by an assailant on the 16th of October, 1951. The assassin, identified as Said Akbar, was apprehended at the scene but was shot dead by the police shortly after. Liaquat's assassination occurred amidst a backdrop of political instability in Pakistan, characterized by tensions between various political factions, the challenge of nation-building, and anxieties regarding Pakistan's place in a region fraught with conflict.

The killing sent shockwaves throughout Pakistan and the wider South Asian region, resulting in public mourning and widespread fears over the country’s future. Liaquat Ali Khan, a close associate of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had worked tirelessly to establish the new nation’s identity and governance structures. His policies aimed to promote economic growth and stabilize the government amidst internal and external pressures. His unexpected death created a leadership vacuum that would have lasting implications for the future of Pakistan, plunging the country into an era of political turmoil, frequent leadership changes, and military influence in politics.

In the wake of this incident, investigations took place but failed to uncover the larger conspiratorial elements that many suspected were involved. The event raised significant concerns regarding the security environment in Pakistan, leading to increased political repression and paranoia among the ruling elite. Pakistan's subsequent political landscape would be shaped significantly by the unresolved questions of governance and national stability that followed Liaquat's assassination.