The Niazi (also spelled Niyazi, , ; ) are a tribe of Ghilzai Pashtun people in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkey. The name Niazi is derived from ''Niazai'', like the other forms of Pashtun tribes, such as Yusafzai and Orakzai. In the Pashtun tribal hierarchy, Niazi is one of the most respected tribes.

People

Niazis in Pakistan mainly live in Mianwali, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Chakwal District, Swabi, Mardan, Hangu, Quetta, Pishin, Loralai, Khanewal, Faisalabad, Kohat and Bhakkar. However, a large number of the Niazi tribe still lives in parts of Afghanistan, mainly in Qalaye Niazi, Kandahar, Ghazni, Gardez, Logar and Paktia province. A considerable number have also settled in Karachi and other major Pakistani cities such as Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar.

Many Niazis are also found in Turkey, and also in the United Kingdom where some descendants live.

Niazi tribe members living in Afghanistan speak Pashto, as do those inhabiting the districts of Hangu, Kohat, Swabi, Mardan, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Mianwali. However, those Pashtuns living east of Kohat speak Saraiki dialect which is influenced by Pashto. Niazis strongly follow the honour code known as Pashtunwali.

Notable people

Given name

''Niazi'' can be used as a given name among Muslim people.

Niyazi (1912-1984), Azerbaijani musical conductor and composer

Niazi Demi, Albanian politician

Niyazi Manyera, Turkish Cypriot politician

Niyazi Öktem, Turkish academic

Niyazi Sayın, Turkish musician

Surname

Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, Pakistani Army Lt Gen

Aamir Hayat Khan Niazi, Pakistani politician

Abdul Sattar Khan Niazi, Pakistani politician

Amil Niazi, Canadian writer, broadcaster and columnist

Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, Pakistani general

Gul Hameed Khan Niazi, Pakistani politician

Hakim Hakimzade Niyazi (1889-1929), Uzbek poet and playwright

Humair Hayat Khan Niazi, Pakistani politician

Imran Khan Niazi, Pakistani cricketer and politician

Isa Khan Niazi, Afghan noble

Mehmet Niyazi (1878-1931), Romanian and Crimean Tatar poet and activist

Misbah-ul-Haq Khan Niazi, Pakistani cricketer

Munir Niazi, Urdu poet

Tariq Niazi, Pakistani field hockey player

Niazi tribe locations

Niazi, Mianwali, Punjab

Niazi, Jaranwala, District Faislabad, Punjab

Niazi, Katora, Khanewal, Punjab

Niazi, Union Council Kot Gulla,Lawa. Tehsil Talagang District Chakwal , Punjab

Katti Khel, Tank, Pakhtunkhwa

Niazi,Tehsil Dunyapur ,District Lodhran , Punjab

Further reading

Glossary of Tribes

Advanced History of Medieval India

A History of Pakistan and Its Origins

See also

Niazi Express, Bus company of Pakistan

Niyazov

Category:Ethnic groups in Afghanistan Category:Ethnic groups in Pakistan Category:Ghilzai Pashtun tribes Category:Turkish-language surnames Category:Turkish masculine given names

de:Niazi fa:نیازی (ابهام‌زدایی) ru:Ниязи

Tufail Niazi is one of the greatest Pakistani singers. He achieved fame with his famous song Sada chirian da chanbha. He has given many performances from ptv and radio Pakistan. His voice is full of deep pathos. He excels in describing bonds which are unbreakable with his musical notes such as love of a daughter and father.

He also has the honour of singing first song that aired on Pakistan Television (PTV).

His other famous songs are "Akhiyaan Lagiyaan Jawaab Na D", "layee beqadran naal yaari", "Mein nai jana kheriyan de nal" and many more

See also

Mai Bhaghi

Madam Noor Jahan

Abida Parveen

References

http://www.folkpunjab.com/tufail-niazi

http://www.apnaorg.com/music/tufail/

Category:Living people Category:Pakistani singers Category:Punjabi-language singers

Coordinates	34°03′″N118°15′″N
name	Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi
birth date	1915
death date	2 February 2004 (aged 89)
birth place	Lahore, Punjab Province, British India
death place	Lahore, Punjab province
placeofburial coordinates
nickname	''Tiger''
birth name	Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi
allegiance	British India
branch
serviceyears	1932-1972
rank	30px Lieutenant-General(''stripped off'' from his rank)
servicenumber	(PA –477)
unit	5th Airborne, Punjab Regiment
commands	Eastern Military High CommandMartial-Law Administrator East-Pakistan5th Airborne, Punjab Regiment14th Paratrooper BrigadeUnified MLA of Karachi and Lahore52nd Mechanized Division50th Airborne Division, Pakistan Army
battles	Burma Campaign of 1944Battle of ImphalBattle of ChawindaIndo-Pakistani War of 1971Operation SearchlightPakistan war in Bangladesh
awards	Hilal-i-Jurat (military)(''stripped off and withdraw'')Military Cross
laterwork	Author }}

Lieutenant-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi HJ, MC ,(}}); c. 1915 - 2 February 2004), was a former 3 star rank general in the Pakistan Army who was the last unified commander of Pakistan Armed Forces's Eastern Military High Command in the East-Pakistan. General Niazi, in 1971, was in charge of Eastern contingent of the Pakistan Armed Forces during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War and Bangladesh Liberation War, alongside with Vice-Admiral Mohammad Shariff, Commander of Eastern Naval Command.

Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, a lieutenant-general, is held responsible by some within the Pakistan High Military Command for having surrendered his unified combatant forces of nearly 93,000 men to the Indian Armed Forces and the guerrilla armed resistance force, the Mukti Bahini, at a time when Indo-Bangali forces were preparing to lay siege on Dhaka and thus, bringing to close the liberation war. General Niazi had, however, always insisted that he had acted according to the orders of the West-Pakistan Military High Command, under General Yahya Khan. Following the war, Niazi was made a scapegoat and blamed for much of Pakistan's massive human rights violations in Bangladesh. General Niazi was personally indicted of smuggling and rape by the Hamoodur Rehman commission, led by Chief Justice Hamoodur Rahman, and as well as the military and strategic losses during the war. He was subsequently relieved of his position in the Army by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Throughout the remainder of his life, Niazi had sought court-martial to prove his innocence, but was never charged. Filed petitions, through his military lawyers in both civilian Supreme Court and the prestigious JAG Branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Before his death, he authored the book "''The Betrayal of East Pakistan''".

The remainder of his life has been described as being similar to that of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. In recent times, there have been increasing calls to have him posthumously pardoned in the same way US President Gerald Ford posthumously pardoned Robert E. Lee and have his due pension released and passed on to his family, but this has yet to be taken up by the Pakistan Government.

Early life

Born in 1915 to a Ghilzai Pashtun family in the Punjab British State, British Indian Empire. In 1932, Niazi enlisted in the British Indian Army as a junior non-commission officer and was sent to Indian Military Academy where he gained B.Sc. in Military science. Niazi also did a paratrooper course while his stay at the Academy. Upon completing his training and studies, Niazi gained officiate (Second Lieutenant) commissioned in 5th Paratrooper of the Punjab Regiment in 1937. He served well Pacific Theatre of World War II.

World War: Burma Theater

On June 11 of 1942, Niazi was sent to Kekrima area of the Assam-Burma front. That spring, Niazi was part of the 14th Army Offensive Group of the British Army, commanded by General William Joseph Slim. During this period, the 14th Army Group had halt the offense against the Japanese Imperial Army at the Battle of Imphal and elsewhere in bitterly fought actions along the Burma front. General Slim described his gallantry action as his action completely surprising the enemy. General Slim wrote a lengthy report to the Generals Headquarter, India about his judgment about the best course of action, which they accepted, his skill in taking the enemy completely by surprise, as well as his personal leadership of his men, coolness under fire, ability to change tactics, create diversions, extricate his wounded and withdraw his men. At the Burmese front, Niazi impressed his commanding officers when as Lieutenant, commanded a platoon that initiated an offense against the Japanese Imperial Army at the Bauthi-Daung tunnels.

His gallantry action had impressed the GHQ India that wanted to decorated him with prestigious ''Distinguished Service Order'', however, Niazi was too junior to received such decoration. During the front, Niazi gained the title "''Tiger''" which was given him by Brigadier D.F.W. Warren, Commanding officer of the 161th Infantry Division of the British Army, after he took final participation in a ferocious fight with the Japanese. After the conflict, the young Lieutenant Niazi was decorated with a Military Cross by the British Government. His Military Cross was earned for actions along the border with Burma, in which he showed great leadership, judgement, quick-thinking, and calmness under pressure.

The British Government honoured Niazi for "personal leadership, bravery and complete disregard for his own personal safety". On 15 December 1944, the Viceroy Lord Wavell flew to Imphal and in the presence of Lord Mountbatten knighted Slim and his corps commanders Stopford, Scoones and Christison. Only two Indian officers were chosen to be decorated by the Viceroy at that ceremony — ‘Tiger’ Niazi was one of them and the other being Lieutenant Sam Manekshaw.

Niazi between the Indo-Pakistan wars

Niazi opted the Pakistan's citizenship and joined the newly-formed Pakistan Army after the Indian partition in 1947. Niazi quickly rose through the ranks, earning various awards including the Hilal-i-Jurat twice.

In 1965, as Colonel and commanding officer of the 5th Paratrooper, Punjab Regiment, activily participated in Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. During the conflict, Niazi was promoted 1-star rank general and as Brigadier-General, Niazi commanded the 14th Paratrooper Brigade, 50th Airborne Division during operations in Kashmir and Sialkot. The 14th Paratrooper Brigade and General Niazi gained international fame after the success of the Chawinda counter-offense. The counter offense resulted in ultimate success and halted the Indian Army troop rotation further inside Pakistan. After the war, General Niazi was made Martial Law Administrator of both Karachi and Lahore. In 1968, Niazi was promoted to 2 star rank Major-General and was made GOC of the 52nd Mechanized Division based in Karachi during this period. In 1970, Niazi commanded the 50th Airborne Division and by 1971, Niazi had reached the rank of 3 star rank of Lieutenant-General in the Pakistan Army.

East-Pakistan Disaster

In 1971, a period of political turmoil in Pakistan, Lieutenant-General Niazi was the highly decorated and most honored officer in the Pakistan Army. In April 1971, Lieutenant-General Amir Abdullah Khan Nazi was sent to East-Pakistan, following a Pakistani military crackdown on Bengali intellectuals. On March 25, Searchlight, planned and enforced by Lieutenant-General Tikka Khan and Major-General Rao Farman Ali, had turned the East Pakistan population completely hostile against the Pakistan Armed Forces and Pakistan was condemn by the International community for taking the action. There is no public evidence that General Niazi publicly condemned the military operation on March 25, 1971. However, during the meeting, General Niazi only comdemn the operation after its outcomes surfaced with mild words. Therefore, Niazi prevented to criticized Pakistan Army's brutal action in East-Pakistan. On April 1971, General Niazi assumed the Command of Pakistan Army, as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, as he replaced General Tikka Khan, the Butcher of Bengal. Throughout this period, Niazi supervised and headed the military operations led by the Pakistan Army in the East-Pakistan. On November 31 of 1971, General Niazi received a message from General Abdul Hamid Khan, Chief of Generals Staff, with Hamid stating, "The whole nation is proud of you and you have their full support." On December 3, the Pakistan Air Force launched ''Chengiz Khan'' without even notifying the Eastern Military High Command.

Eastern Military High Command

Following the resignation of Vice-Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan on 7 March 1971, as the Unified Commander of Eastern Military High Command and Martial Law Administrator, the General Yahya Khan's military government was unable to find an active duty officer who was willing to take this task. During this 9 month period, several officers assumed the command but was repeatedly removed as they were brutally failed to restore the order. And, many other high and senior officers of Pakistan Armed Forces were cautious on the posting and none of the senior officers were willing to take the charge of the East Pakistan. Meanwhile, on December 14, General Niazi himself volunteered for the job of Martial Law Administrator of East Pakistan. General Yahya Khan immediately made him as the Martial Law Administrator of East Pakistan and the Unified Commander of the Eastern Military High Command. General Yahya Khan sent him a telegram message stating, "You have fought a heroic battle against overwhelming odds. The nation is proud of you …You have now reached a stage where further resistance is no longer humanly possible nor will it serve any useful purpose… You should now take all necessary measures to stop the fighting and preserve the lives of armed forces personnel, all those from West Pakistan and all loyal elements".

The situation in East-Pakistan was extremely difficult, as Bengali forces in the Pakistani Army had gone into mutiny, large segments of the population were hostile, and an independence movement was gaining steam among the Bengalis. Despite this, Niazi and Mohammad Shariff were able to reaffirm Pakistan's control over wide parts of East Pakistan territory, opening the window for a political solution to the turmoil - this would not come to fruition.

However, on December 16 of 1971, East-Pakistan Intelligence Directorate (EPID) learned the Indo-Bengali siege of Dhaka. Niazi appealed for a cease-fire but Sam Manekshaw set the deadline for the surrender. Failing to surrender on time, a siege on Dhaka will take place. Not wanting to deterioration of the city, General Niazi signed an instrument of surrender with his counterpart Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora, General Officer Commanding-in-chief of Eastern Command of the Indian Army. The meeting was set at Ramna Race Course in Dhaka at 16:31 IST on 16 December 1971, and General Niazi surrendered the Eastern Military High Command's nearly 93,000 personnel to the hands of India.

Aftermath: Revelation

It was only after returning to Pakistan as empty-handed prisoner of war did Niazi criticize Tikka and Rao Farman. Niazi himself admitted that he raised the Razakar forces, who were employed against the Mukti Bahini (guerilla forces) and were used to kill, terrorize people and destroy rural villages. His vows against the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini were notorious. The crackdown against the Bengalis had gone too far, and the result saw Pakistan Combatant forces involved in a guerrilla war with the Bengali Mukti Bahini, under C-in-C General Osmany, Bangladesh Forces. The Pakistan Combatant Forces were unprepared and untrained for such warfare, and they [Pakistan Armed Forces] were highly incompetent to reverse such attacks. After a preemptive strike on the Indian territories in the western front, a full-scale invasion of East Pakistan by India resulted in isolation for Niazi's and Shariff's forces being ambushed by the Mukti Bahini, and with the absence of external aid, eventual surrender.

Return to Pakistan

On 16 December 1971, General Niazi surrendered the 93,000 Pakistan Armed Forces personnel in East Pakistan to his counterpart Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces and the Mukti Bahini Allied Forces just after 1,300 casualties from the Pakistani side. General Niazi signed the instrument of surrender resulting in his surrender along with a sizable number of Pakistan Armed Forces personnel and intelligence civilians officers who were taken prisoners (upwards of 93,000 including about 34000 regular army soldiers). This was the largest number of POWs since World War II and included some senior government officials. Most would remain in captivity for more than three years after the conflict ended as they were to be tried for crimes such as rape and murder of the Bengali populace. General Niazi was symbolically the last prisoner of war to cross back to Pakistan, after Prime minister Bhutto signed a treaty with his counter-part Indira Gandhi, Indian Premier. Such actions symbolized his reputation as a "''soldier's general''" but did not shield him from the scorn he faced upon his return to Pakistan, where he was made a scapegoat for the surrender. Upon his return, Bhutto stripped Niazi's military rank, and the pension usually accorded to retired soldiers. Bhutto also strip his military decorations and humiliated while he was given discharge from his service.

Pursuit for Court-Martial

The Commission, led and investigated by Chief Justice Hamoodur Rahman of Supreme Court — reportedly revealed that Niazi was guilty of several misconducts during his tenure as Martial Law Administrator in East Pakistan. It confirmed that the General was indulging in paan (chewing tobacco) smuggling from East to West-Pakistan and sexual excesses, including, possibly rape as stated by witnesses. In order to clear his name, Niazi sought a court martial from JAG Branch, but it was never granted by Bhutto and General Tikka Khan who was the current Chief of Army Staff. The former general would try to take up politics in order to clear himself, but he was jailed in order to quell such actions by General Zia-ul-Haq, the Chief Martial Law Administrator of Pakistan. In 1998, he released ''The Betrayal of East Pakistan'', where he blamed General Yahya Khan, General Rao Farman Ali, General Tikka Khan and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for the separation of East Pakistan. Niazi did not accept Hamoodur Rahman Commission as he believed that it was prepared by one of the guilty parties (Bhutto) and that it was no alternative to a court-martial, where accused persons are allowed to defend themselves, bring in witnesses, cross examine etc. Niazi claimed that a court-martial would have brought out the names of those who later rose to unthinkable heights, as it is easier to find one scapegoat who would help spare dozens. As others have made similar claims in relation to the treatment of disgrace scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. Niazi lived out his life in Lahore, his wife predeceasing him.

Legacy and Public Image

Niazi’s reputation as a “''soldier’s general''” lasted to the end. He was let down in 1971 by the Pakistan's Higher Command (both political and military) and was subsequently victimized in the fallout from the war. Throughout his life, Niazi was saw as a guilt and remained highly notorious until his death. In Pakistan, Niazi was saw as traitor and coward, and his death was not publicized in television. Niazi died in Lahore with only few attended his funeral.

He was also noted for making audacious statements like ''"Dacca will fall only over my dead body"''. According to Pakistani author, Akbar S. Ahmed, he had even hatched a far-fetched plan to ''"cross into India and march up the Ganges and capture Delhi and thus link up with Pakistan."'' This he called the "Niazi corridor theory" explaining "It was a corridor that the Quaid-e-Azam demanded and I will obtain it by force of arms". In a plan he presented to the central government in June 1971, he stated in his own words that "''I would capture Agartala and a big chunk of Assam, and develop multiple thrusts into Indian Bengal. We would cripple the economy of Calcutta by blowing up bridges and sinking boats and ships in Hooghly River and create panic amongst the civilians. One air raid on Calcutta would set a sea of humanity in motion to get out of Calcutta”.''

His life after the 1971 war to his death in 2004 had been described as being similar to that of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. In recent times, there have been increasing calls to have him posthumously pardoned in the same way the United States posthumously pardoned Robert E. Lee and have his due pension released and passed on to his family, but this has yet to be taken up by the Pakistan Government.

References

Further reading

External links

Op-ed: The courageous Pak army stand on the eastern front by Sarmila Bose 24 November 2003 - Daily Times

Pakistan: Independence and Military Succession

Video of Surrender By General Niazi, A. A. K.

Lt. Gen A.A.K. Niazi

|-

Category:1915 births Category:2004 deaths Category:Pashtun people Category:Pakistani generals Category:Generals of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Category:Generals of the Bangladesh Liberation War Category:British Indian Army officers Category:Bangladesh Liberation War Category:Hilal-e-Jurat Category:Indian people of World War II Category:Recipients of the Military Cross Category:Governors of East Pakistan

bn:আমির আবদুল্লাহ খান নিয়াজী es:Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi id:Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi ru:Ниязи, Амир sl:Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi ur:امیر عبداللہ خان نیازی

Coordinates	34°03′″N118°15′″N
name	Munir Niazi
birth name	Munir Ahmed Niazi
birth date	April 19, 1928
birth place	Khanpur, Punjab, British India
death date	December 26, 2006
death place	Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
occupation	Urdu poet
nationality	Pakistani
ethnicity	Punjabi
influenced	Urdu poetry
awards	Sitara-e-Imtiaz
portaldisp	}}

Munir Ahmad, better known as Munir Niazi, (}}) SI (1928–2006) was an Urdu poet from Pakistan who also produced poetry in the Panjabi language.

Niazi was born in Khanpur on 19 April 1928, a village near Hoshiarpur, India. He was from the Niazi tribe. He was initially educated at Khanpur and after the partition of India he migrated to newly independent Pakistan and settled in Sahiwal, where he passed his matriculation. He earned an intermediate degree from S.E. College, Bahawalpur and a B.A. from Diyal Singh College in Lahore, Pakistan.

Munir Niazi launched a weekly, ''seven coulors'', from Sahiwal in 1949. He wrote numerous songs for films and made his name as the foremost movie song writer of Pakistan. He also wrote for newspapers, magazines and radio. In 1960 he established a publication institute, ''Al-Misal''. He was later associated with Lahore Television and lived in Lahore till his death.

''Taiz Hawa Aur Tanha Phool, Jungle mein Dhanak, Dushmanoon Kai Darmiyan Sham'' and ''Mah-e-Munir'' are some of his Urdu publications. In Punjabi he has published ''Safar di Raat, Char Chup Cheezan and Rasta Dasan Walay Tarey.''

His effective imagery conveys pictures in few words. He has experimented with poetic forms and has tried to create a new style, rhythm and diction in Urdu poetry. Innocence, mythology, nostalgia, dreams, eroticism, and romance are some of his most common themes.

Selected English translations of Munir Niazi's poetical works were edited by Suhail Safdar and published in 1996.

Munir Niazi died of respiratory illness on 26 December 2006 in Lahore.

References

PILAAC to observe Munir Niazi’s 1st death anniversary - Daily Times

Category:1928 births Category:2006 deaths Category:Deaths from respiratory failure Category:Pashtun people Category:People from Hoshiarpur Category:People from Lahore Category:Pakistani poets Category:Punjabi poets Category:Urdu poets Category:Sitara-i-Imtiaz Category:Pakistani Sunni Muslims

pnb:منیر نیازی ur:منیر نیازی

Dr. Sher Afgan Khan Niazi () is from the famous pashtun tribe of Niazi. He was the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs of Pakistan. He was elected to National Assembly as a member of Muslim League (Q). Sher Afgan Niazi helped President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf to replace the judges of the Supreme Court in 2007. On April 8th, 2008 he was attacked in Lahore, Punjab by the lawyers protesting his support for dismissing of Supreme Court judges.

Niazi joined Former President Musharraf's newly formed political party, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML). .

References

Category:Living people Category:Pashtun people Category:Pakistani politicians