Following the assassination of Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan in 1951, he was invited to be the Governor-General by Khawaja Nazimuddin who himself took over the government as Prime Minister. Nationwide violence as the aftermath of the language movement in Dacca and religious riots in Lahore made him dismiss Nazimuddin administration using the reserve powers to restore control of the Law and order in Pakistan. In 1955, he was forced to resign from the post of Governor-General due to worsening of his health conditions by then-Interior Minister Iskander Ali Mirza, who himself took control of the office. After resignation, he fought a brief but unsuccessful battle with his illness, that ultimately resulted in his death in 1956.