Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed
He was born in 1928 in Hong Kong. He was commissioned into the Punjab Regiment, in 1950. On 6 September 1965, as a Company Commander in the Burki area of the Lahore sector, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti 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 organized the defence of the canal, directing his men to answer the fire until he was hit by an enemy tank shell and embraced martyrdom on 10 September 1965.
He hailed from Rajput family. The name of his father was Master Abdullah Bhatti, and his mother was Bibi Aamna. He had six siblings and six children including four sons and two daughters. He was regarded as a remarkable among officers throughout his career and always stood top in his group. Due to his brilliant performance he was awarded with the Sword of Honor among a batch of 300 officers, and also acquired the Norman Medal. He was medaled by Liaqat Ali Khan who was the first Prime Minister of Pakistan.
He was from a Muslim Rajput family. His father’s name was Master Abdullah Bhatti, and his mother’s name was Bibi Amna. . . He had four brothers, Nazir, Bashir, Sardar and Rashid, and two sisters, Rashida and Tahira. 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. Throughout his career, he was a brilliant officer and stood out in his class. He did very well at the Academy and was awarded the Sword of Honour best in his year’s batch of 300 officers, and the Norman Medal. He received his honours from Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, who was later assassinated.
On 6 September 1965, as a Company Commander in the Burki area of the Lahore sector, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti choose 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,He was reorganizing 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 11 September 1965.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. Major 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”.
On Defence Day, September 6, we salute the Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheeds , who embraced the pains in order to save our beloved country Pakistan and our independence. Above all to ensure the safety and security of all Pakistanis. Let us pay a tribute to our Shaheeds on this special day, who are awarded Nishan-e-Haider. A hearty Salute to him, even though am an Indian it dosnet matter for me as all the Soldiers lay done their lives for their mother land.
Major Raja Aziz Bhatti (1928 – September 10, 1965) was a Pakistan Army Staff Officer who received Pakistan’s highest award for valor. He was born in Hong Kong in 1928. He moved to Pakistan before it became independent in 1947, living in the village of Ladian, in the district of Gujrat. There he enlisted with the newly formed Pakistani Army and was commissioned to the Punjab Regiment in 1950. Throughout his career, he was a brilliant officer and stood out in his class. He did very well at the Academy and was awarded the Sword of Honour best in his year’s batch of 300 officers, and the Norman Medal. He received his honours from Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan.Major-Raja-Aziz-Bhatti
Major Raja Aziz Bhatti was posted in the Burki area of Lahore sector. As the company commander, Major Bhatti 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.
Throughout, undaunted by constant fire from enemy small arms, tanks and artillery, he organized the defence of the canal, directing his men to answer the fire until he was hit by an enemy tank shell and embraced martyrdom on 10 September 1965. 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. Major 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 in the Gujrat district. His spirit and supreme act of valour will inspire the Pakistani nation for all times to come. Nation would never forget its heroes.
Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Hospital, Gujrat, has been attached with the Nawaz Sharif Medical College as the teaching hospital.ABSH is the largest hospital in Gujrat. Its District Headquarter (DHQ) hospital of Gujrat. The DHQ Hospital Gujrat was established in 1963 and renamed in 1966 as Aziz Bhatti Shaheed DHQ Hospital, Gujrat. The hospital has 500 beds.
