Abdul Khaliq Hazara (assassin)

Khaliq was born in 1916 in the Chindawol area of Kabul, Afghanistan.^{[citation needed]} He was a student at Nejat High School.^{[citation needed]}

Khaliq witnessed the rise of King Nadir Khan from 1929 and the assassinations of Afghanistan's intellectuals and politicians. Nadir, who was a general of King Amanullah Khan, was summoned by Amanullah to fight against Habibullah Kalakani and restore the monarchy, but instead Nadir proclaimed himself king.^{[citation needed]} He systematically hand-picked supporters of Amanullah Khan and imprisoned them. For years he plucked and eliminated any person who he thought would someday stand against his reign. ^{[citation needed]} The wrath of Nadir was over anyone not of the Mohammadzai tribe, his targets included the former king and his Pashtun clans, the Tajiks of the north and the Hazaras of central Afghanistan.^{[citation needed]}

In 1933, Khaliq's uncle, brothers and father were arrested by Nadir Khan's regime after the execution of Ghulam Nabi Charkhi, an Amanullah supporter.^{[citation needed]}

Abdul Khaliq plotted to assassinate Nadir Shah. The first attempt was at the Independence Day gathering at the Id Gah Mosque, but Abdul Khaliq did not attend. A few months later, opportunity arose when Nadir Shah invited athletes of his high school to the palace to distribute medals for their achievements. Abdul Khaliq was one of the attendees and saw no security units at the gates. Abdul Khaliq rode his bike back to the Pamir Cinema area and brought with him a gun that belonged to his friend Ishaq Sherdel.^{[citation needed]}

 

Abdul Khaliq returned with a Nagant M1895 loaded with 6 bullets of 7.62×38mmR wrapped in a handkerchief hidden in his pocket. He stood behind Ishaq Sherdel and Mahmood. The national flag was lowered and Nadir Shah entered the rose garden. He examined the medals table and walked over towards the students. Abdul Khaliq reached into his pocket and pulled out the gun, aimed at Nadir Shah and pulled the trigger. The first bullet hit Nadir in his mouth, the second shot pierced Nadir's heart, and the third shot cut through one of Nadir's lungs. The guards rushed towards Abdul Khaliq and a fourth bullet hit a guard. Abdul Khaliq then threw the gun as the guards chased him.^{[citation needed]}

Shah Mahmood ordered the arrest of over 400 "Nejat High school" students and by executive decree ordered all students to be put to death. A soldier in the national guard convinced Mahmood that the students were innocent, and they were then released.^{[citation needed]}

 

Abdul Khaliq was imprisoned and under torture gave up the names of his accomplices. Abdul Khaliq was given a trial in which he named all his friends and family members as accomplices. The strength of these claims has since been questioned by the lone surviving member of Abdul Khaliq's family. He was eventually sentenced to death along with 16 others. The majority of Abdul Khaliq's family were taken to the Deh Mazang prison.^{[citation needed]}

Sixteen nooses were prepared at the execution site. Abdul Khaliq was brought over and was asked with which one of his fingers he squeezed the trigger. He lifted his index finger, and immediately that finger was cut off. He was then questioned which eye he used to aim, upon which they immediately gouged out that eye with a dagger. The authorities eventually tortured Abdul Khaliq to death instead of hanging him.^[3] Security officers tortured Abdul Khaliq by cutting his tongue and gouging his eyes and soldiers killed him with bayonets while his family and friends were forced to watch.^[4][5]

Abdul Khaliq Hazara is considered to be a martyr by Hazaras and the Solidarity Party of Afghanistan.^[6]

• Hazara Genocide
• Assassination
• List of Hazara people