[citation needed] Khaliq witnessed the rise of King Nadir Khan from 1929 and the assassinations of Afghanistan's intellectuals and politicians.

[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.

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 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.

[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.