Sanaullah Khan Niazi

He was born on 10 September 1960 in Daud Khel, Mianwali into a Pakhtun Niazi family.^[17] His father was SSP Khan Ikhlas Khan, a notorious police officer who served in Quetta for most of his career and was known as "fearless" for arresting Nawab Akbar Bugti in the 1970s.^[18]

He has 3 brothers, Rehmat Ullah Khan Niazi who at the time of Sana's passing was serving as Deputy IG Quetta Police, Amin Ullah Khan and Madad Khan.^[19] One of his paternal cousins is cricketer and former PM of Pakistan Imran Khan.^[5]

Sanaullah is survived by his widow and two daughters.^[20]

Colonel Moeen Yusuf Khan, one of his former staff officers, stated Sanaullah was "a difficult man to make angry and very easy to make happy." Moeen also writes that Sana was very fond of cars.^[21]

Upon completing the 12th OTS course on 11 December 1983, he was commissioned into the army in the 11 Baloch Regiment. He was awarded the COAS cane by Zia-ul-Haq for achieving second place in the course.^[22][23]

On 9 September 2013, he inaugurated the Jashn-i-Kumrat sports festival in Upper Dir and gave a speech to the 3,000 participants that terrorists wouldn't be allowed to disturb the peace. He added that the festival would promote peace and tourism in the area.^[24]

He graduated from the Officers Training School in Mangla in 1983, Pakistan Command and Staff College in 1994, National Defence University, Pakistan, and the National Defense University (Republic of China) in 2012.^[25]

He was credited for establishing peace along with reviving tourism in the Swat Valley. Further known for working tirelessly in the recovery efforts and bringing back the residents of Swat Valley who were evacuated after the army launched an operation to clear the area from the occupation of terrorists.

He is known as the pioneer of the Malam Jabba Snow Festival, which was the first cultural event that took place after the military operation against the terrorists.

In a short span of seven months, he cleared the Malakand division of terrorists and oversaw the security of 50,000 tourists. He launched a sports Gala for the youth of Swat and reopened the Kabal Golf Course which subsequently led to Swat Valley holding a national golf tournament for the first time in 20 years. Additionally, an art exhibition took place for the first time in Swat's history.^[26][27]

After staying two nights above 10,000ft at Malatar troop post to boost the morale of soldiers following a deadly attack a year previously which killed 18 soldiers, Sanaullah and Lt Col Touseef Ahmed were travelling to the Battalion Headquarters of 33 Baloch which Touseef was the Commanding Officer of, from the Upper Dir District along the Afghan border when their vehicle drove over a bomb at 12:30pm planted by the Pakistani Taliban killing them along with their driver Lance Naik Irfan Sattar (33 Baloch) and injuring Havildar Ilyas and DQ21 Havildar Ghaffar. They were all airlifed to a military hospital in Rawalpindi.^{[28][29][30][31]}

His Janaza along with the other victims was held on 16 September 2013 and attended by army personnel, police officers, politicians and civilians.^[32]

Military personnel laid floral wreaths on his grave on behalf of President Mamnoon Hussain, COAS Kayani, CAS Tahir, CNS Asif, and CJCSC Khalid.^[33]

At an event later that evening, Kayani stated, “The General Officer has set towering example of leading from the front which is hallmark of leadership in Pakistan Army, we all salute his bravery.”^[34]

In June 2018, the terrorist that planned the attack was killed in Afghanistan by a drone strike from the United States Army.^[35][36]

The terrorist that planted the device was arrested and sentenced to death by the COAS on 15 December 2018.^[37]

Sanaullah Colony, Maj Gen Sanaullah Khan Niazi Shaheed Cricket tournament, Maj Gen Sanaullah Memorial Football tournament, Maj Gen Sanaullah Khan Niazi Shaheed Toll Plaza, and Maj Gen Sanaullah Khan Niazi Shaheed Interchange are named after him.^[38][39]