The Pakistan Army has paid homage to Major Raja Aziz Bhatti who embraced martyrdom while defending the country during the 1965 war with India.
“Nation honors the supreme sacrifice by Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed, Nishan-e-Haider, in 1965 war,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a tweet on Friday.
September 12 marks the 55th death anniversary of Bhatti who was a company commander deployed in the Burki area of Lahore front during the 1965 war.
“His stellar leadership and courage beckons us to defend Pakistan, come what may,” the ISPR added.
To pay homage to the brave son of soil and hero of the 1965 war, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at his village Ladian in Gujrat, where a floral wreath was laid on behalf of Chief of army staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Major Aziz Bhatti was born in Hong Kong in 1928 and moved to Pakistan before independence in 1947, settling in Ladian village of district Gujrat. In 1950, he joined the newly-formed Pakistan Army and was commissioned in Punjab Regiment.
He was a military officer in the Pakistan Army who was cited with the Nishan-e-Haider for his actions of valor during the Battle of Burki in the second war with India in 1965.
During the Indo-Pak war in September 1965 as a company commander in Burki, Lahore, he decided to stay with his forward platoon and defended the strategic BRB Canal bravely for five days.
Despite constant fire from enemies’ tanks and artillery, he remained undaunted and organized the defense of the BRB canal along with his brave soldiers until he was hit by an enemy’s shell and embraced martyrdom.
Nishan-e-Haider is conferred upon soldiers who perform acts of great heroism in circumstances of extreme danger, or to those who demonstrate the bravery of the highest order or devotion to the country in the presence of the enemy.
Every year, the anniversary is celebrated with traditional fervor and the valor of the Nishan-e-Haider awardee.