Under Quaid-i-Azam’s constitutional framework, the executive powers lay with the Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan. When Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated in October 1951, in Rawalpindi, Khawaja Nazimuddin who was the Governor General at that time took over as the second Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Ghulam Muhammad, who had been Finance Minister from the earliest days of inception of Pakistan, was selected as the Governor General. It was under Prime Minister Nazimuddin that the second draft of the Basic Principle Committee was presented to the Constituent Assembly on December 22, 1952. The Basic Principle Committee was set up to determine the basic principles for further development of the constitution of Pakistan. Khawaja Nazimuddin remained in power till April 1953 when he was removed form office by Ghulam Muhammad. Khawaja Nazimuddin’s downfall was not only due to his nobility of character but also due to the struggle among leaders for power. The movement for Tahafuz-i-Khatam-i-Nabuwwat in Punjab and the worsening food condition in Punjab further caused trouble for Khawaja Nazimuddin.

The Anti Ahmediya movement was started in Punjab by the Ahrar and had the support of Mian Mumtaz Daultana the Chief Minister of Punjab. This movement soon spread to other parts of the country. There was wide spread disturbance and the situation in the country soon worsened to the brink of anarchy and civil war. Imposition of martial law became imminent. Khawaja Nazimuddin was summoned by the Governor General along with his Cabinet and was ordered to resign. Khawaja Nazimuddin declined and was dismissed by Malik Ghulam Muhammad on April 17, 1953. After the dismissal of Khawaja Nazimuddin the Governor General appointed a not well-known leader of East Pakistan Muhammad Ali Bogra as the Prime Minister.