Liaquat Ali Khan's tomb is in the Mazar-e-Quaid complex in Karachi, a few metres from Muhammad Ali Jinnah's mausoleum. Pakistan's first prime minister was shot in Rawalpindi on 16 October 1951 and buried beside Jinnah in Karachi the next day. His grave now lies in the Quaideen Grave Hall on the eastern side of the mausoleum, and his wife, Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan, is buried in the same hall.
There is no separate site to find: you see the tomb as part of a visit to the Mazar. This guide covers who he was, the assassination and funeral, what is at the grave, and how it links to other places in Pakistan.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Quaideen Grave Hall, east side of Mazar-e-Quaid, Karachi |
| Born | 1 October 1895, Karnal |
| Prime minister | 15 August 1947 to 16 October 1951 |
| Died | 16 October 1951, Company Bagh, Rawalpindi |
| Buried | 17 October 1951, beside Jinnah in Karachi |
| Titles | Shaheed-e-Millat and Quaid-e-Millat |
| Access | Through the Mazar-e-Quaid complex; check current status first |
Who was Liaquat Ali Khan?
Liaquat Ali Khan was born on 1 October 1895 in Karnal, then in Punjab, and studied at Aligarh, where he took a BSc and then a law degree in 1918, before a master's in law at Exeter College, Oxford. He joined the All-India Muslim League in 1923, became one of Jinnah's closest lieutenants, and was the League's honorary general secretary from 1936. In the Interim Government of 1946 to 1947 he served as finance minister of British India.
On 15 August 1947 he became Pakistan's first prime minister. His years in office included:
- the Objectives Resolution, which he moved in the Constituent Assembly on 12 March 1949;
- the founding of the National Bank of Pakistan in November 1949;
- the Liaquat-Nehru Pact of 1950, an agreement with India on the protection of religious minorities in both countries after Partition.
How did Liaquat Ali Khan die?
He was shot twice in the chest at about 4:30 pm on 16 October 1951 while addressing a large public meeting at Company Bagh in Rawalpindi. He was taken to hospital, where doctors tried a blood transfusion, but he died shortly afterwards. The gunman, an Afghan national named Said Akbar, was shot dead by police at the scene.
The full story of who, if anyone, stood behind the killing has never been settled, and it remains one of Pakistan's unsolved political murders. His last words are usually recorded as "Khuda Pakistan ki hifazat kare", "May God protect Pakistan".
Company Bagh was later renamed Liaquat Bagh in his memory. Our Liaquat Bagh guide covers the park in Rawalpindi.
Why is he buried at Mazar-e-Quaid?
Karachi was the capital in 1951, and it was where Jinnah had been buried three years earlier. Liaquat's body was flown from Rawalpindi to Karachi on the night of 16 October. Funeral prayers were held the next day at the Karachi Polo Ground, where about a quarter of a million people gathered, and the procession moved slowly through streets lined with mourners, escorted by the Governor-General's bodyguard. He was buried beside Jinnah on 17 October 1951.
At that time the mausoleum did not exist. Jinnah's grave had only a small domed shelter, and construction of the present building did not start until 1960. Liaquat's grave was the first of the national figures to be added beside the Quaid, and the finished complex was built around both. The full building story is in our history of Mazar-e-Quaid.
After his death he was given the titles Shaheed-e-Millat, Martyr of the Nation, and Quaid-e-Millat, Leader of the Nation.
What do you see at the tomb?
His grave is in the Quaideen Grave Hall on the eastern side of the main mausoleum, one of five there. According to the Quaid-i-Azam Mazar Management Board, all five graves are clad in Malagori marble, the same stone as the Quaid's. The others are:
- Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan, his wife (1905 to 1990), who founded the All Pakistan Women's Association in 1949 and served as Pakistan's first woman governor, of Sindh, from 1973 to 1976;
- Fatima Jinnah, the Quaid's sister, buried in 1967;
- Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, buried in 1958;
- Nurul Amin, buried in 1974.
It is a calm space with little ornament. Visitors usually stop to read the names and offer fateha. For Fatima Jinnah's grave in the same hall, see our guide to Fatima Jinnah's tomb.
How do you visit Liaquat Ali Khan's tomb?
You enter through the main Mazar-e-Quaid complex on M.A. Jinnah Road. The same security checks, rules and hours apply as for the mausoleum, and public access has been restricted in recent years. Before you go, read our Mazar-e-Quaid timings guide and check the latest news.
- Dress modestly, as for a shrine or mosque.
- Keep quiet and do not climb on the graves or railings.
- Ask the guards before taking photographs inside the halls.
- Avoid national days if you want a calm visit; ceremonies close parts of the complex.
Is it worth seeing?
If you are at the Mazar, yes. It takes a few minutes, and standing at the graves of the country's first prime minister and his wife, beside the founder, puts the first years of Pakistan in one place. It is not a reason for a separate trip. If you are building a wider itinerary around the Pakistan Movement, pair it with Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi and the Jinnah sites in Karachi. Our experiences page has other heritage ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Liaquat Ali Khan buried?
In the Mazar-e-Quaid complex in Karachi, in the Quaideen Grave Hall on the eastern side of Jinnah's mausoleum.
When was Liaquat Ali Khan assassinated?
On 16 October 1951, at about 4:30 pm, while addressing a public meeting at Company Bagh in Rawalpindi, now Liaquat Bagh.
Who killed Liaquat Ali Khan?
He was shot by Said Akbar, an Afghan national, who was killed by police at the scene. Whether anyone was behind him has never been established.
Is his wife buried with him?
Yes. Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan, who died on 13 June 1990, is buried in the same hall at Mazar-e-Quaid.
Can visitors see Liaquat Ali Khan's grave?
Only as part of a visit to the Mazar-e-Quaid complex, whose public access has been restricted in recent years. Check the current position before going.
