1. THE ASSSASSINATION OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79S01011A000500060005-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 10, 2000
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 16, 1951
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Relec 2000/08/29 CIA-RDP79S01 11 O ~OO0600A05-4
'~"EPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of Intelligence Research
Intelligence Brief
No. 10W. 861 D& W: October 16, 1951
1. THE ASSASSINATION OF THE PRIME
MINISTER OF PAKISTAN
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali
Khan, was assassthated at Rawalpindi on October 16. He was not only
Prime Minister but also Defense Minister and head of the Muslim
League, the dominant political party of Pakistan. First reports from
Pakistan indicate that Liaquat's assassin was a member of the 'Ktaak-
cars, a fanatical, right-wing, extremist religious sect of the Muslim
religion. This group has been active in the Punjab, and has expressed
its dizsattsfaction with "Liaquat'ss policy of moderation" toward India.
The sect Is led by a man named Allama Mashrigl and it favors "Jehad, "
or holy war, against India. on the Kashmir Issue. Mashrigt was in Ger-
many In the 1930's, met Hitler and was greatly influenced by him. Upon
his return to the Punjab In 1935 he established the Khaksars, as a uni-
formed Para-military organization.
Comment: A man of Western habits, tempered by the realization
that concew ons - to Muslim orthodoxy were a constant political necessity,,
Ltaquat had been a powerful force for moderation in. all phases of Pakis-
tan's domestic and inter >aational of fairs. He favored collaboration
with the West, advocated fI rm security measures against internal com-
munist activity and restated Soviet diplomatic pressures on Pakistan.
His economic attitudes were characterized by conciliation toward urban
commercial interests, the powerful landlords who exert great influence
in the Muslim- League, the mounting pressures created by refugees` and
leftist forces interested in Immediate social and economic reforms.
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CONFIDENTIAL
Item No. 1 Continued
His death removes an able leader of national stature able to keep this
complex chess-board of pressures in check. He was a major stabili-
zing force in Pakistan's. politics, was extremely skillful in checking
personal rivalries and political factionalism among his subordinates
in the interest of achieving a working team and maintaining national
and party morale.
It seems likely that the Prime Ministership will, be awarded only
on a temporary basis until all the facets of Muslim League machinery
can be brought into play to decide on a new leader of party and state,
or to confirm the temporary selection on a more permanent basis.
The two most likely candidates appear to be Sir Zafrullah Khan, the
^oretgn Minister and Ghulam Mohammed, the Finance Minister.
Neither of these two men command any organized political machinery
but they are both men of ability who command general respect. Since
Ghulaan Mohammed, however, in not well and since immediate problems
are mainly In the field of external affairs, it would appear that Zafrullah
Khan is the more likely man for the post.
Approved For Release 2000/0 F S0101lA000500060005-4