Lieutenant General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi (Retd), who was the last commander in the former East Pakistan, died of cardiac arrest at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) here on Sunday night. He was 89.
According to his son-in-law Colonel Abdur Rauf Niazi, the retired general was a diabetic patient and was also suffering from respiratory problem. On Sunday evening he developed breathing problem and was rushed to the CMH where he expired later in the night.
He has left behind two sons and three daughters to mourn his death.
His funeral will be taken out from his residence 1-Shami Road, Cantt. and he would be buried at the Cavalry Ground graveyard.
Lieutenant General Niazi was born in 1915 in Balow-Khel, a village near Mianwali. The Second World War broke out while Niazi was a young man and after short training course in 1942, was inducted into 4/7 Rajput Regiment then fighting in the Western Desert.
As junior officer in Kohima, Burma he displayed immense courage and keenness, for which the commander 161 Indian Infantry Brigade nicknamed him 'Tiger', the name and reputation that remained with him. After the action in Kohima, he was awarded the Military Cross.
Later, he saw action in the Middle East, Singapore, Malaya, Indonesia, India, Azad Kashmir and Pakistan, being wounded no less than five times.
Having received 24 medals, including several commendations, Niazi was one of the most decorated soldier of the Pakistan Army.
He held various command positions, including 5 Punjab during 1965 and was awarded Hilal-e-Jurrat, 14 Para Brigade during operation in Azad Kashmir and Sialkot. He was the commandant school of Infantry and Tactics, Quetta and taught at the Command and Staff College Quetta.
He was commanding the 10-Division in Lahore in April 1971 when he was sent as Commander Eastern Command to East Pakistan.