It's said that a martyr is never considered dead. His legacy lives on and remains alive in our hearts forever. Major Aziz Bhatti, who embraced martyrdom on September 12, 49 years ago, is lauded and remembered as one of the most gallant and courageous of Army personnel in history.
Aziz was a staff officer in the Pakistan Army, who had previously served in Japan, British India and then Pakistan, after the country's formation. He was an accomplished and an experienced soldier to have served in the Imperial Japanese Navy as a lieutenant for three years, the Indian Air Force as a corporal for one year and then the Pakistan Army as a major for 17 years until his passing.
"Do not recall me. I don't want to go back. I will shed the last drop of my blood in the defense of my dear homeland"
Having rubbed shoulders with top rank soldiers throughout his life, Aziz was a trust-worthy and a reliable Army man who was looked up to with immense respect and admiration by all those who knew him.
Aziz was born in Hong Kong to a Muslim Punjabi Rajput family in 1928. He belonged to a family of brave and valiant soldiers. His brother Bashir was killed during the Second World War by the Japanese while leaving Hong Kong. He himself had six children; four sons named Major Zafar Javed Bhatti, Dr Zulfiquar Ahmad Bhatti, Rafique Ahmad Bhatti and Iqbal Javed Bhatti and two daughters named Riffat Bhatti and Zeenat Bhatti.
He moved to Pakistan before Independence in 1947, living in the village of Ladian, Kharian, Gujarat. There he enlisted with the newly formed Pakistani Army and was commissioned to the Punjab Regiment in 1950.
His father's name was Abdullah Bhatti and his mother's name was Amna. He had four brothers, Nazir, Bashir, Sardar and Rashid and two sisters, Rashida and Tahira. Throughout his career, he was a brilliant officer and stood out among his peers. He did very well at the Academy and was awarded the Sword of Honour for being best in his batch of 300 officers and the Norman Medal.
Aziz was posted in the Burki area of Lahore sector. As the company commander, he chose to move his platoon forward under constant firing from Indian tanks and artillery. For three or more days he went without rest. He resisted for five days and nights defending a Pakistani outpost on the strategic BRB canal.
On September 6, 1965, as a Company Commander in the Burki area of the Lahore sector, Aziz chose to stay with his forward platoon under incessant artillery and tank attacks for five days and nights in the defence of the strategic BRB Canal, throughout, undaunted by constant fire from enemy small arms, tanks and artillery. He was reorganising his company and directing the gunners to shell the enemy positions. In order to watch every move of the enemy, he had to place himself in an elevated position, where he was exposed to Indian fury. He led his men from the front under constant attack from Indian Artillery batteries. Although he tried to counter every Indian offensive in his area, he was hit by an enemy tank shell in the chest while watching the enemy's moves and embraced martyrdom on September 12, 1965. He was only 37 years old at that time.
A day before his shahadat (martyrdom), the commanding officer had sent to him word that since he had been fighting untiringly for the last five days and nights, he should take a little rest and that another officer was being sent to replace him. Aziz, who was filled with a battle spirit and the will for martyrdom replied, "Do not recall me. I don't want to go back. I will shed the last drop of my blood in the defence of my dear homeland."
He is buried at his village in Ladian, Gujarat.
Each year, Aziz is honoured in Pakistan on September 6, also known as Defence Day of Pakistan. He was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider (Sign of the Lion), on March 23, 1966 which is Pakistan's highest military award for gallantry for the exemplary courage he displayed until his martyrdom.
The major wars fought by Aziz have been World War II, in which his brother Raja Bashir Bhatti was also killed and the Indo-Pak War of 1965, where he embraced martyrdom himself. He is, to this day, considered one of the greatest heroes and legends of Pakistan to have lived and embraced martyrdom.
legends : Major Aziz Bhatti
May Allah(swt) grant you the highest place in heaven. Nations that sacrifice stay alive, ahmadullah Pakistan is one of those few nations. With sons like you the nation will always sleep at night.
Aziz was a staff officer in the Pakistan Army, who had previously served in Japan, British India and then Pakistan, after the country's formation. He was an accomplished and an experienced soldier to have served in the Imperial Japanese Navy as a lieutenant for three years, the Indian Air Force as a corporal for one year and then the Pakistan Army as a major for 17 years until his passing.
"Do not recall me. I don't want to go back. I will shed the last drop of my blood in the defense of my dear homeland"
Having rubbed shoulders with top rank soldiers throughout his life, Aziz was a trust-worthy and a reliable Army man who was looked up to with immense respect and admiration by all those who knew him.
Aziz was born in Hong Kong to a Muslim Punjabi Rajput family in 1928. He belonged to a family of brave and valiant soldiers. His brother Bashir was killed during the Second World War by the Japanese while leaving Hong Kong. He himself had six children; four sons named Major Zafar Javed Bhatti, Dr Zulfiquar Ahmad Bhatti, Rafique Ahmad Bhatti and Iqbal Javed Bhatti and two daughters named Riffat Bhatti and Zeenat Bhatti.
He moved to Pakistan before Independence in 1947, living in the village of Ladian, Kharian, Gujarat. There he enlisted with the newly formed Pakistani Army and was commissioned to the Punjab Regiment in 1950.
His father's name was Abdullah Bhatti and his mother's name was Amna. He had four brothers, Nazir, Bashir, Sardar and Rashid and two sisters, Rashida and Tahira. Throughout his career, he was a brilliant officer and stood out among his peers. He did very well at the Academy and was awarded the Sword of Honour for being best in his batch of 300 officers and the Norman Medal.
Aziz was posted in the Burki area of Lahore sector. As the company commander, he chose to move his platoon forward under constant firing from Indian tanks and artillery. For three or more days he went without rest. He resisted for five days and nights defending a Pakistani outpost on the strategic BRB canal.
On September 6, 1965, as a Company Commander in the Burki area of the Lahore sector, Aziz chose to stay with his forward platoon under incessant artillery and tank attacks for five days and nights in the defence of the strategic BRB Canal, throughout, undaunted by constant fire from enemy small arms, tanks and artillery. He was reorganising his company and directing the gunners to shell the enemy positions. In order to watch every move of the enemy, he had to place himself in an elevated position, where he was exposed to Indian fury. He led his men from the front under constant attack from Indian Artillery batteries. Although he tried to counter every Indian offensive in his area, he was hit by an enemy tank shell in the chest while watching the enemy's moves and embraced martyrdom on September 12, 1965. He was only 37 years old at that time.
A day before his shahadat (martyrdom), the commanding officer had sent to him word that since he had been fighting untiringly for the last five days and nights, he should take a little rest and that another officer was being sent to replace him. Aziz, who was filled with a battle spirit and the will for martyrdom replied, "Do not recall me. I don't want to go back. I will shed the last drop of my blood in the defence of my dear homeland."
He is buried at his village in Ladian, Gujarat.
Each year, Aziz is honoured in Pakistan on September 6, also known as Defence Day of Pakistan. He was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider (Sign of the Lion), on March 23, 1966 which is Pakistan's highest military award for gallantry for the exemplary courage he displayed until his martyrdom.
The major wars fought by Aziz have been World War II, in which his brother Raja Bashir Bhatti was also killed and the Indo-Pak War of 1965, where he embraced martyrdom himself. He is, to this day, considered one of the greatest heroes and legends of Pakistan to have lived and embraced martyrdom.
legends : Major Aziz Bhatti
May Allah(swt) grant you the highest place in heaven. Nations that sacrifice stay alive, ahmadullah Pakistan is one of those few nations. With sons like you the nation will always sleep at night.
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