Imtiaz Bhatti

Imtiaz Bhatti (18 April 1933 – 2 July 2024) was a Pakistani cyclist and Air Force pilot and officer.

Bhatti was the Pakistan cycling champion during his student days at Punjab Agriculture College, Lyallpur (now University of Agriculture, Faisalabad) in late 1940s and early 1950s. He set national cycling records and represented Pakistan in the individual and team road race events at the 1952 Summer Olympics where he was placed 1st among the Asian cyclists and 25th in the world in the 1000 m time trial. Bhatti a veteran of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 flew 34 combat missions, the maximum from Pakistan during the war and is credited with confirmed downing of two Indian planes and damaging a third, in addition to participating in raids that destroyed the Amritsar radar and various other air defence and ground support missions.

Career Service with the Air Force After completing his postgraduate studies at Punjab Agriculture College, he joined the Pakistan Air Force in 1953, where he was commissioned as an officer and had a distinguished career before retiring as an air commodore in 1988. Due to his distinguished acts of gallantry, valor and courage shown during war while performing duty and meritorious service, he was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat, Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Sitara-e-Basalat by the Government of Pakistan and declared a legend by the PAF Falcons and is one of the war heroes to whom tribute is paid on Pakistan Defence Day.

1965 war

On 1 September 1965, Sargodha Airbase was assigned an Air Defence Alert mission. Bhatti who was a flight lieutenant in No. 15 Squadron at Sargodha at that time. After completing his regular duty 0400–1200 hours, he asked to be allowed to continue for another shift. Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Rafique commander of No. 5 Squadron, accompanied him on the mission, which started around 1700 hours. On getting airborne, they were directed by the Pakistani radar at Sakesar to the Sialkot-Chamb axis, from where they vectored to Chamb-Jaurian. Once there, the two started visual search not only for the attacking aircraft, but also for the PAF C-in-C, who was reported to be making an on-site assessment of the battle in a T-37. Bhatti first spotted two Vampires crossing 3–4,000 ft underneath and informed S/L Rafique, who immediately went after the two spotted planes. Bhatti, instead of flying as a traditional wingman, broke away and sighted more Indian aircraft. Before he could go after them, he saw two more Vampires that were trying to get into position behind Rafique. He called Rafique to break and himself took care of the other two that were following Rafique.

On 13 September, in an encounter between PAF F-86 Sabres from Sargodha and IAF Gnats from No. 2 Squadron, an Indian Gnat flown by Flt. Lt. A.N. Kale was shot down by Flt. Lt. Yusaf Ali Khan, although Kale managed to eject safely. The other Gnat, flown by Squadron Leader N. K. Malik, was engaged and damaged in air combat by Flt. Lt. Bhatti. The experienced Malik somehow managed to return to his base, but according to All India Radio the Gnat's pilot later died of wounds sustained during the combat while attempting to land. His funeral was attended by the Indian President. Yusaf Ali Khan was credited with a kill, while Bhatti was only credited with damaging a Gnat, despite later confirmation that Malik had died of his wounds and his Gnat had crashed.

1971 War After Bhatti was promoted to the rank of squadron leader, he commanded No. 25 Squadron from 1968 to 1970, flying Shenyang FT-6s fighter/trainer jets. When the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 broke out, he kept serving with his squadron while stationed at Sargodha Airbase.

Awards and decorations

PAF GD(P) Badge RED (More than 3000 Flying Hours)Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage)Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)

(Star of Excellence)Sitara-e-Basalat (Star of Good Conduct)Tamgha-e-Diffa (General Service Medal)

1. 1965 War Clasp

2. 1971 War ClaspSitara-e-Harb 1965 War (War Star 1965)Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War (War Star 1971)Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War (War Medal 1965)Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War (War Medal 1971)Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e- Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam

(100th Birth Anniversary of

Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

1976Tamgha-e-Jamhuria (Republic Commemoration Medal)

1956Hijri Tamgha (Hijri Medal)

1979

Sitara-e-Jurat Citation

For his actions in the 1965 war, Bhatti was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat, which is the third highest gallantry award of Pakistan.