Dr. Sher Afgan Khan Niazi is a Pakistani politician who served as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. He belonged to the prominent Pashtun Niazi tribe. Known for his deep understanding of legal frameworks, he held significant influence during the presidency of Pervez Musharraf.
Early life and education
Dr. Niazi pursued a medical career before entering the political arena. He completed his M.B.B.S degree at Nishtar Medical College located in Multan, Punjab. This academic background established his professional foundation as a doctor.
Career
Niazi entered the National Assembly for his fourth term in 2002. During this period, he served as a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (Parliamentarians). He later shifted his political loyalty to become part of the PPPP (Patriot) before joining the Pakistan Muslim League (Q). These transitions marked a period of significant movement within his political affiliations.
He played an active role in supporting the administration of President Pervez Musharraf. In 2007, Niazi assisted Musharraf in the efforts to oust, detain, and replace judges of the Supreme Court. He also provided support for the military operation conducted by the Musharraf regime at Lal Masjid in Islamabad. This specific operation resulted in the deaths of more than 1000 seminary students, including girls at Jamia Hafsa.
Political opposition to his stances grew intense during his tenure. On 18 February 2008, he lost the general election to an independent candidate named Humair Hayat Khan Rokhri. His political standing faced further physical challenges in Lahore, Punjab. On 8 April 2008, lawyers attacked him and pelted him with rotten eggs to protest his support for the dismissal of Supreme Court judges and the Lal Masjid operation. This attack triggered days of strong protests in his hometown.
Niazi eventually joined the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), a party formed by former President Musharraf. He did not remain with this group indefinitely. He later resigned from the APML due to differences with the party leadership.
Personal life
Dr. Niazi was noted for his intellectual capacity regarding national law. He was famous for memorizing all the articles of the Constitution of Pakistan. His expertise in constitutional affairs gave him a strong command over the country's legal structure.
His personal life faced significant hardship following a family tragedy. The health of Niazi began to deteriorate slowly after one of his sons died in a car accident in Rawalpindi. He was eventually diagnosed with liver cancer in 2012. Dr. Sher Afgan Khan Niazi died on 11 October 2012.