Tariq Aziz (TV personality)

Tariq Aziz (Punjabi, Urdu: طارق عزیز; 28 April 1936 – 17 June 2020) was a Pakistani television host, poet and film actor, known for PTV's quiz show Neelam Ghar, first aired in 1974, later renamed the Tariq Aziz Show and lately as Bazm-e-Tariq Aziz. He was known for his iconic line " Dekhti Aankhon,Sunte Kaanon Tariq Aziz ka Salam".[1][2]

This article is about the Pakistani television host. For other uses, see Tariq Aziz (disambiguation).

Tariq Aziz
طارق عزیز
Born(1936-04-28)28 April 1936
Jalandhar, Punjab, British India
Died17 June 2020(2020-06-17) (aged 84)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
NationalityPakistani
Occupations
Years active1964 – 2020
Known forNelaam Ghar, Bazm-e-Tariq Aziz
OfficeMember of National Assembly of Pakistan (1997–1999)
SpouseHajira Tariq Aziz
AwardsPride of Performance (1992)

He was the first face to appear on television in Pakistan.[3] He had also been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan between 1997 and 1999.[4]

Early life

Tariq Aziz was born in 1936 to a Punjabi Arain family, in Jalandhar, Punjab, British India. His father's name was Mian Abdul Aziz. He received his early education in Jalandhar and in 1947 migrated to the then Montgomery city now Sahiwal, Pakistan. He graduated from the Government College Sahiwal.[5]

Career

Aziz moved to Lahore to start his career at Radio Pakistan in 1961.[5] Later when Pakistan Television (PTV) started its initial broadcast in November 1964 from Lahore, Aziz was the first person to be seen on it and went on to become first male PTV announcer.[1][3]

Television

He was one of the first TV hosts to gain commercial success by using the platform of his quiz show Neelam Ghar/Tariq Aziz Show/Bazm E Tariq Aziz. He interviewed many notable intellectuals, sports persons and celebrities on his shows.[2]

"Game shows are all the rage on television these days and their highly-paid hosts have their dedicated fans. But what about Tariq Aziz, the pioneer of Pakistani game shows?"[1]

He appeared, as a guest, and answered all the questions on the game show Inam Ghar in Pakistan, becoming the first man to do this. He did this without using any help provided to the participants. He then donated all the prizes that he received to an organisation which works for the welfare of people.[2]

Film

Tariq Aziz, along with the film actor Waheed Murad and film actress Zeba, starred in Pakistani film Insaniyat (1967).[6] Aziz also starred in other Pakistani films "Haar Gaya Insaan" and then later in Qasam us Waqt Ki (1969). Aziz appeared on several local television programs and morning shows. He also organised telethons for charity purposes.[7] Aziz also acted in a number of Pakistani films in the late 1960s and 1970s in side-roles. One of his movies was Salgira (1969) which was a highly successful musical movie and won two Nigar Awards for that year.[8][9]

Politics

Aziz was active in student politics during his college era and joined Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party in 1970. At that time, Aziz was called a "Firebrand Socialist" known for charging up the crowds with revolutionary slogans at Bhutto's rallies.[1] However, later he parted ways with that party and went back to showbiz. In 1996, Aziz joined Pakistan Muslim League (N) and was elected as a member of Pakistan National Assembly from Lahore. He was one of the political activists who were charged with attacking the Supreme Court of Pakistan building in 1997.[10][1]

During Pervez Musharraf's presidency, he joined his political party Pakistan Muslim League (Q).[1] However, he could not attain any status of note in that party and was sidelined.[1] Again, he returned to the entertainment industry. But this time his career in the entertainment industry could not reach the highs of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s due to plenty of competition by newly launched private TV channels in Pakistan after 2002.[1]

Aziz was a philanthropist, book-lover, and poetry reciter. In 2018, a major English-language Pakistani newspaper reported about him, "He (Tariq Aziz) shared that having children or no children is the will of Allah and since he has no kids of his own, he would like to give all his earnings for the welfare of his country. Aziz has won the hearts of many by announcing his will and he surely is a role model for all of us."[2]

Literary works

Tariq Aziz was a poet of Punjabi language and writer. His books include:

  • Hamzad Da Dukh (ہمزاد دا دکھ): Poetry in Punjabi language[11]
  • Iqbal Shanasi (اقبال شناسی): To Know Iqbal[12]
  • Hazar Dastaan.( ہزار داستان) His collection of Urdu newspaper Columns.
  • Footpath sy Parliament tak . Book written by Tariq Aziz.

Death

He died on 17 June 2020 in Lahore, aged 84.[13][14] He was admitted to a private hospital on the night of 16 June 2020 after feeling ill. He was laid to rest at the Garden Block, Garden Town graveyard Lahore Pakistan beside his mother’s grave.[5]

Awards and recognition

References
  1. Nadeem F. Paracha (30 July 2017). "SMOKERS' CORNER: FIRST IN THE GAME (Profile of Tariq Aziz)". Dawn (newspaper). Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  2. Asma Malik (5 December 2018). "Tariq Aziz donates all his earnings to Pakistan". Daily Pakistan (newspaper). Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  3. "Watch: Tariq Aziz's first announcement on PTV | SAMAA". Samaa TV. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  4. "MNAs (1972–1997)" (PDF). Election Commission of Pakistan. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 February 2018.
  5. Iconic TV anchor Tariq Aziz laid to rest Associated Press of Pakistan website, Published 17 June 2020, Retrieved 15 August 2021
  6. Pakistani film Insaniyat (1967) starring Tariq Aziz on IMDb website Retrieved 27 January 2019
  7. "Profile of Tariq Aziz on Archived PTV Global website". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  8. Parvez, Amjad (10 October 2019). "Waheed Murad: remembering the Chocolate Hero of Pakistani cinema — Part II". Daily Times. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  9. Rehmat, Kamran (18 June 2020). "His age, his stage". Gulf Times. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  10. "Bitter memories of 1997 contempt case against Sharif". The News International (newspaper). 19 January 2012. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  11. "ہمزاد دا دُکھ | طارق عزیز". Folk Punjab (in Punjabi). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  12. "Iqbal Shanasi Aur Folio by Tariq Aziz". Rekhta.
  13. "Renowned TV host Tariq Aziz passes away at 84". Dawn. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  14. "Pakistan's renowned TV host Tariq Aziz passes away in Lahore". BOL News. 17 June 2020. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  15. Profile of Tariq Aziz The News International (newspaper), Published 18 June 2020, Retrieved 15 August 2021
  16. "PTV Awards 1998", PTV (News), archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 29 June 2021
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