Babar was made governor  of the North West Frontier Province by then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1974.

In 1988, when Bhutto’s daughter Benazir became prime minister, Babar took over as her special assistant and in 1993 he became interior minister.

He initiated police action against Karachi-based ethnic Muttehida Qaumi Movement (MQM.

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani expressed deep condolence over Babar’s death and said, “Late Babar was a associate of both, Bhutto and Benazir. He greatly contributed toward strengthening the Pakistan Peoples Party and will always be remembered by Party workers.”