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.[2][4]
Television
He was one of the first TV hosts to gain commercial success by using the platform of his quiz show
Tariq Aziz Show/Bazm E Tariq Aziz. He interviewed many notable intellectuals, sports persons and celebrities on his shows.[3]
"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?"[2]
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.[3]
Film
Tariq Aziz, along with the film actor Waheed Murad and film actress Zeba, starred in Pakistani film Insaniyat (1967).[7] 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.[8] 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.[9][10]
Politics
Aziz was active in student politics during his college era and joined
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.[11][2]
During Pervez Musharraf's presidency, he joined his political party Pakistan Muslim League (Q).[2] However, he could not attain any status of note in that party and was sidelined.[2] 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.[2]
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."[3]
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[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.[14][15] 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.[6][16]
