Tariq Aziz

Tariq Aziz (Punjabi, ; 28 April 1936 – 17 June 2020) was a Pakistani television host, poet, film actor, and politician known for PTV's quiz show Nilaam Ghar, first aired in 1974, later renamed the Tariq Aziz Show and later still as Bazm-e-Tariq Aziz. He was known for his iconic line "Dekhti Aankho, Sunte Kaano aapko Tariq Aziz ka Salam pohnchay" (Urdu: دیکھتی آنکھوں، سنتے کانوں آپ کو طارق عزیز کا سلام پہنچے)

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

Early life and education Tariq Aziz was born in 1936 in Jalandhar, Punjab Province. His father Mian Abdul Aziz was a lawyer, journalist and editor, responsible of a fortnightly magazine from Sahiwal, while being politically attached to the Majlis-e Ahrar-e Islam. Later, Mian Abdul Aziz renamed himself Mian Abdul Aziz "Pakistani" when Choudhry Rahmat Ali coined the term "Pakistan", and he would eventually lose his government job because of his anti-colonial activities.

Tariq Aziz received his early education in Jalandhar and in 1947 migrated to the then Montgomery District city (now Sahiwal, Pakistan). He graduated from the Government College Sahiwal. Later they shifted to Abbottabad and where his father died and was buried.

After being active in politics in the 1990s and early 2000s, 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. Aziz also starred in other Pakistani films Haar Gaya Insaan and then later in Qasam us Waqt Ki (1969). He 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.

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. Iqbal Shanasi (Urdu: اقبال شناسی), Knowing Iqbal Hazar Dastaan (Urdu: ہزار داستان): His collection of Urdu newspaper columns. Footpath sy Parliament tak (Urdu: فٹ پاتھ سے پارلیمنٹ تک), From Footpath to Parliament: Book

Death He died on 17 June 2020 in Lahore, aged 84. 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 in Lahore, Pakistan beside his mother's grave.

Awards and recognition Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1992 for his services to the nation. At 9th PTV Awards he won Best Host Award in 1998