Sanaullah Khan Niazi
Sanaullah Khan Niazi | |
|---|---|
| ثناء اللہ خان نیازی | |
| General Officer Commanding 17th Infantry Division | |
| In office February 2013 – 15 September 2013 | |
| Succeeded by | Ghulam Qamar (temporarily) Javed Mahmood Bukhari |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 September 1960 Daud Khel, Mianwali, West Pakistan |
| Died | 15 September 2013 (aged 53) Upper Dir District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| Manner of death | Assassination |
| Resting place | Daud Khel |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Amin Ullah Khan (brother) Imran Khan (cousin) |
| Education | Officers Training School, Mangla Command and Staff College Quetta National Defence University, Pakistan National Defense University (Republic of China) |
| Known for | |
| Awards | See list |
| Nickname | Soldiers' General |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Pakistan Army |
| Years of service | 1983–2013 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | 11th Baloch Regiment |
| Battles/wars | |
Major General Sana Ullah Khan Niazi (10 September 1960 – 15 September 2013), also known as Soldiers' General, was a two-star rank general serving as General Officer Commanding of the Pakistan Army's 17th Division in Malakand from February 2013 until his assassination in a roadside blast in September. Lieutenant Colonel Tauseef and Lance Naik Irfan were also killed in the blast while two other officers were injured. Sanaullah was posthumously awarded the Sitara-e-Basalat and Hilal-i-Imtiaz on Pakistan Day in 2014 and 2015.
Sanaullah is renowned for clearing the Malakand District division of militants in less than seven months and overseeing the security of 50,000 tourists. Additionally, he was known for launching a sports Gala and reopening the Kabal Golf Course for the youth of Swat, which subsequently led to the valley holding a national golf tournament after 20 years as well as an art exhibition for the first time in Swat's history.
Sanaullah is the brother of Amin Ullah Khan and paternal cousin of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.