Today (Tuesday), the nation commemorates Major Raja Aziz Bhatti’s 58th anniversary of his martyrdom. Bhatti gave his life on September 12, 1965, to defend the nation.
In 1928, he was born in Hong Kong. Before Pakistan gained its independence in 1947, he relocated there and established residence in Ladian village in the Gujrat district.
He joined the newly established Pakistani Army there, where, in 1950, he was appointed to the Punjab Regiment.
As Company Commander in the Burki area of the Lahore sector on September 6, 1965, Major Bhatti made the decision to move with his forward platoon under continuous artillery and tank attacks for five days and nights in order to defend the strategically important BRB canal. This was after India attacked Pakistan with the greatest number of tanks ever.
He organised the defence of the canal the entire time, unfazed by the constant barrage of enemy tanks and artillery, ordering his men to return fire until, on September 12, 1965, he was killed by an enemy tank shell.
He was 37 at the time. Raja Aziz Bhatti received the prestigious Nishan-e Haidar in recognition of his contributions to Pakistan.
