Liaquat Ali Khan (1896-1951) was the first prime minister of Pakistan. He played an important role in the negotiations leading to the creation of Pakistan and then in the consolidation of the new state.

On Oct. 1, 1896, Liaquat Ali Khan was born at Karnal in Punjab, India. His family were wealthy landowners who later moved to the United Provinces. He was educated at Aligarh and Oxford University. After qualifying as a barrister in England in 1922, he returned to India.

Liaquat was elected to the Legislative Council of the United Provinces in 1926, where he served for the next 14 years. During this period he was active in the affairs of the Muslim League, and in 1937 he became its secretary. Genial and able to mingle easily with all classes, he was a useful counterpoise to the austere Mohammad Ali Jinnah, with whom he worked closely in building up the Muslim League as...