Remembering legendary Tariq Aziz

Tariq Aziz was a Pakistani film actor, television show host and politician, known for his work on the PTV's Quiz Show Neelam Ghar, first aired in 1974, later renamed the Tariq Aziz Show and later known as Bazm-e-Tariq Aziz. He also had been member of the National Assembly of Pakistan between 1997 and 1999. He was born in 1936 to an Arain family. Tariq Aziz's family came from Jalandhar, British India. He received his early education in Jalandhar before starting his career at Radio Pakistan, Lahore. When Pakistan started its initial television broadcast in November 1964 from Lahore, Aziz was the first male PTV announcer. He was the first man to be seen on a Pakistan Television (PTV) broadcast. Tariq Aziz, along with the film actor Waheed Murad and film actress Zeba , starred in the film "Insaniyat (1967)", a Pakistani film. Aziz also starred in another Pakistani film "Haar Gaya Insaan". Aziz has appeared on several local television programs and morning shows. He has also organised telethons for charity purposes. In 1996, Aziz was elected to the National Assembly from Lahore as a member of the Pakistan Muslim League (N). 

Tariq Aziz also acted in a number of Pakistani films in the late 1960s and 1970s in side-roles. One of his famous movies was Salgira (1969) which was a highly successful musical movie and won 2 Nigar Awards for that year. He was one of the first TV anchors to gain commercial success by using the platform of the quiz show Neelam Ghar/Tariq Aziz Show. He interviewed many notable intellectuals, sportspersons and celebrities on his shows. "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?" He appeared, as a guest, and answered all the questions on the game show Inam Ghar in Pakistan, and became the first man to do this. He did this without using any help provided in these game shows to the participants. He then donated all the prizes that he received in the game show to an organisation which works for the welfare of people.

Political career

Tariq Aziz was active in student politics during his college days and had joined Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party in 1970. In those days, Tariq Aziz was called a "firebrand socialist" known for charging up the crowds with revolutionary slogans at Bhutto's rallies. However, later he parted his ways with that party and went back to the entertainment world. In 1996, Tariq Aziz joined Pakistan Muslim League (N) and was elected 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. During President Pervez Musharraf's ruling period, he joined his political party Pakistan Muslim League (Q). However, he could not attain any status of note in that party and was sidelined. Again, he returned to the entertainment industry. But this time his career in entertainment industry could not reach the highs of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s due to plenty of competition by many TV channels in Pakistan after 2002. Tariq Aziz was a philanthropist, book-lover and also has done well in reciting poetry. 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." 

Awards and recognition

Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1992 for his services to the nation. 

Death

He died on 17th June 2020 in Lahore. He was admitted to a private hospital on the night of 16th June 2020 after feeling critically ill.

Courtesy : Wikipedia