Pakistan mourns as Tariq Aziz passes away

The passing of Pakistan’s renowned TV/radio host, film actor and politician Tariq Aziz has left an irreplaceable void in the country and Pakistanis, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, mourned his death and remembered him and his work.

According to Radio Pakistan, Aziz passed away due to cardiac arrest in Lahore on Wednesday. He was 84. ARY reported that the veteran host did not have any underlying ailments or conditions. He had been isolating at home ever since the coronavirus outbreak. Quoting his wife, the reporter said that a while before his death Aziz said he felt cold and put his head on his wife’s shoulder for some relief. He passed away soon after.

Read more – Legendary Pakistani actress Sabiha Khanum passes away at 85

In a condolence message, the Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Aziz was “an icon in his time and a pioneer of our TV game shows”.

Saddened to learn of the passing of Tariq Aziz, an icon in his time and a pioneer of our TV game shows. My condolences and prayers go to his family.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 17, 2020

President Arif Alvi said that “a chapter closes with the sad demise of Tariq Aziz”.

A chapter closes with the sad demise of Tariq Aziz. May his soul rest in peace. I will fondly remember his opening greetings in Neelam Ghar.

دیکھتی آنکھوں اور سنتے کانوں کو طارق عزیز کا سلام

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ

— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) June 17, 2020

Meanwhile, from celebrities and politicians to sportsmen and journalists, everyone fondly remembered the legend and his iconic presence on the screen.

نیلام گھر شو کی مشہور آواز طارق عزیز کی وفات پر انتہائی دکھ اور افسوس ہوا۔ انٹرٹینمنٹ کی دنیا میں طارق عزیز نے اپنے منفرد انداز سے تفریح اور تعلیم فراہم کی۔دکھ کی اس گھڑی میں متاثرہ خاندان کے ساتھ کھڑے ہیں۔#TariqAziz

— Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan (@Dr_FirdousAwan) June 17, 2020

Echoing..
ابتدا ہے ربِ جلیل کے بابرکت نام سے
جو دِلوں کےبھید خوب جانتا ہے
You will be missed Tariq Aziz sab. Our Legendary household name – He was like a family member for all Pakistanis.
In compering he was a great source of inspiration for me. May ALLAH rest his soul in peace pic.twitter.com/5JP7yWWpuY

— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) June 17, 2020

علم وادب سے محبت رکھنے والےممتاز فنکاراور پروگرام نیلام گھر کے نامورمیزبان طارق عزیز نے ریڈیو/ٹی وی کے ہر میڈیم پر اپنی قابلیت اور صلاحیتوں کا لوہا منوایا۔پاکستان ان کے ایمان کا حصہ تھااور وہ وطن کی پہچان اور پرجوش آواز تھے۔اللہ تعالی انہیں اپنے جوار رحمت میں اعلی مقام عطا فرمائے pic.twitter.com/krQo7vmiOS

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 17, 2020

Our media industry has lost a legendary host, actor & an exceptional human being.

End of an era..!!!

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ..!!#TariqAziz pic.twitter.com/gV7WH7Y6Vj

— Fahad Mustafa (@fahadmustafa26) June 17, 2020

DAIKHTI ANKHOO AUR SUNTAY KANOO.
RIP Tariq Aziz Sb,What an Icon.The only time I asked A guest to start the show & I remmember his hands trembling when he held the Mike (because of his age) BUT the moment cameras started rolling, the Voice came out with its trademark Grandeour.. pic.twitter.com/N4f90zRbd6

— vasay chaudhry (@vasaych) June 17, 2020

A big part of my childhood. May you rest in peace sir. Thankyou for entertaining us with your game shows & so much more❤️
“Dekti aankhon or suntay kanon ko#TariqAziz ka salam” 🤲🏻

— MAWRA HUSSAIN (@MawraHocane) June 17, 2020

Heavens today :
"Dekhti ankhon, sunte kanon ko Tariq aziz ka salam" ❤#TariqAziz was the cornerstone of our television culture, and defined it for decades. An institution, a legend and icon, his legacy will span generations to come, you will live in our hearts forever sir. RIP pic.twitter.com/eFOCzn8CL2

— Farhan Saeed (@farhan_saeed) June 17, 2020

My heart just fell to the floor 💔 One of the most respected, mesmerizing and engaging personalities till date, is no more. A superstar, a larger than life personality with the kindest heart. May he rest in eternal peace. He will live on in our hearts 4ever #RIPLegend #TariqAziz pic.twitter.com/YQfNqmnNIF

— Ali Rehman Khan (@alirehmankhan) June 17, 2020

Inna lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Rajioon ! Another legend departed. He was a pioneer broadcaster, host and actor. He was a name known in every household in Pakistan. May Allah bless him eternal peace #RIP #TariqAziz #legendsofpakistan #PTV pic.twitter.com/kbvmkajZbw

— Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (@RFAKWorld) June 17, 2020

#TariqAziz. The name. The show. No one can ever measure upto the grandeur of Neelaam Ghar. Thank you for contributing so much to Pakistani entertainment industry. May your soul rest in peace. Ameen!

— Zara Noor Abbas Siddiqui (@ZaraNoorAbbas) June 17, 2020

Another day, another big loss 💔
RIP #TariqAziz My heart aches 😔 pic.twitter.com/BQpZrFF345

— Saba Qamar (@s_qamarzaman) June 17, 2020

Another huge loss 😞 Tariq Aziz Saab you will be missed. #TariqAziz 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/zEoSOowrBz

— Bilal Ashraf (@IamBilalAshraf) June 17, 2020

Dekhti ankhon or suntey kano ko #TariqAziz ka akhri Salam 😞

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ

— Mirza Gohar (@GoharRsd) June 17, 2020

Rest in peace Tariq Aziz Sahab. You gave us an era. A childhood full of memories. You gave us gifts and so much more. We forget our heroes too soon. But I am confident you shall never be forgotten. Such was your presence. #RIP #TariqAziz https://t.co/xMNGO29P7s

— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) June 17, 2020

Inalilahewainaelerajiun- Just heard of the passing of veteran host Tariq Aziz sahab, the pioneer of game shows in Pakistan, epitomizing the golden era of television. May he rest in eternal peace. Deepest condolences to his family and friends.

— Ushna Shah (@ushnashah) June 17, 2020

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ

So sad to hear about the loss of Tariq Aziz sab. He was a role model full of knowledge, ethics, culture, norms a true human who groomed more than three generations of Pakistan. Praying for your high ranks in jannah 🤲🏼🤲🏼 pic.twitter.com/LqKYVUjlZV

— Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki) June 17, 2020

Heard the sad news of legendary anchor Tariq Aziz sahab this morning. May Allah make his journey onwards easy. He was the first face of Pakistan Television. #TariqAziz pic.twitter.com/hRaU1mbokR

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) June 17, 2020

الوداع طارق عزیز صاحب۔۔۔ pic.twitter.com/OZNIEEMlMj

— Abrar Ul Haq (@AbrarUlHaqPK) June 17, 2020

“ Yeh watercooler aap ka huva”

The most endearing & popular sentence we grew up listening to.

Rest In Peace, Tariq Aziz Saheb.

— Maria Memon (@Maria_Memon) June 17, 2020

We have lost an epoch in television history!#RIPTariqAziz

— Shafaat Ali (@iamshafaatali) June 17, 2020

Inna lillah e wa inna elaihi rajio’on… such sad news… a legend departs… an era ends… generations grew up with him… Nation and PTV should pay the deserving homage. https://t.co/Zz3Yr8L4TN

— Gharidah Farooqi (T.I.) (@GFarooqi) June 17, 2020

Born in 1936 in Jalandhar, Aziz began his professional career from Radio Pakistan Lahore and was one of the most recognisable voices on the radio. Later, he joined PTV, where he not only became the state-owned television’s first announcer, he also became popular for his work on PTV’s Quiz Show Neelam Ghar, first aired in 1974. The show was later renamed the Tariq Aziz Show and also known as Bazm-e-Tariq Aziz.

Aziz’s unique hosting skills on Neelam Ghar made him a household name in Pakistan over the past four decades in the country.

Other than that, Aziz was also a poet and a film actor – he was part of several films over the course of his career. He also featured in the super hit musical Salgira (1969), which went on to win two Nigar Awards that year.

Aziz was also a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan between 1997 and 1999.

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

May his soul rest in peace.