Defence Day Of Pakistan - Nishan-E-Haider - Major Raja Aziz Bhatti (Shaheed) - (1928-1965) (1995-12)

Born in Hong Kong in 1928 in a family from Gujrat, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti was commissioned into the Punjab Regiment in 1950. He won both the Sword of Honour and the Norman Gold Medal at the Pakistan Military Academy - a unique distinction in itself.
On September 6, 1965, Major Bhatti was commanding a company in the Burki area of the Lahore sector. Although two of his platoons were located on the home bank of BRB canal, he choosed to move with the forward platoon.The enemy launched incessant attacks from September 7 with the full weight of his artillery and armour. But Major Bhatti and his men held on and continued to fight with grim determination. On the night between September 9 and 10, the enemy mounted a major attack all along the sector, throwing a whole battalion against Major Bhatti\'s platoon.
In view of the situation, Major Bhatti was ordered to pull back to the home bank of the canal.
When he fought back his way to the ferry site with his last platoon he found the enemy in occupation of the site. Here he led his men in a fierce charge and threw the enemy out of the area. He covered the withdrawal of his men and vehicles and was the last to leave the enemy bank.
Back on the home bank, Major Bhatti organised his company to defend the canal. Undaunted by constant fire from enemy small arms, tanks and 8rtillery, he continued to face the onslaught, directing his men to answer the fire. In the process he received a direct hit on his left shoulder from an enemy tank shell which killed him on the spot.
For the supreme sacrifice that he made for the honour of his country, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti was awarded Nishan-e-Haider, the highest military award of Pakistan on September 11, 1965.
To commemorate the auspicious occasion Pakistan Post is issuing a stamp of Rs. 1.25 denomination on September 6, 1995.