Imtiaz Bhatti

Imtiaz Bhatti born (18 April 1933) in Gujrat, British India is a cyclist and a former Air Force pilot of Pakistan. He 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 made Pakistan cycling records and represented Pakistan by competing 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 1000m time trial. Bhatti a veteran of the 1965 Indo-Pak war flew 34 combat missions the maximum from Pakistan during the war and is credited with confirmed downing of two Indian planes, damaging a third plane, besides participating in raids that took out the Amritsar radar and various other air defence and ground support missions.

Career
After completing his post graduation studies from Agriculture College, he joined Pakistan Air Force in 1953, where he was commissioned as an Officer and had a distinguished carrier before retiring as Air Commodore in 1988. Due to his distinguished acts of gallantry, valor and courage shown during war while performing duty and meritious service he was awarded with Sitara-i-Jurat, Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Sitara-i-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 the Pakistan Defence day.

1965 war
On 1 September 1965 the Sargodha Airbase was assigned the Air Defence Alert mission. Bhatti who was a Flight Leiutenant in No. 15 Squadron at Sargodha at that time, after completing his regular duty 0400-1200 hours asked to be allowed to continue for another shift. Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Rafique Commander No. 5 Squadron was accompanying him on the mission which started around 1700 hours. On getting airborne the Pakistani radar at Sakesar directed them to 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 Rafiqui who immediately went after the two sighted vampires. Bhatti instead of flying traditional wingman broke away and sighted more Indian aircraft. Before he could go after them he saw two more Vampires who were trying to position behind S/L Rafiqui. He called Rafiqui to break and himself took care of the other two that were following Rafique.

As per Government of Pakistan citation "Flight Lieutenant Imtiaz Ahmad Bhatti was one of the two pilots who were on an air patrol when they were directed to intercept enemy aircraft attacking our ground forces in Chamb area. This was the first air encounter of the Indo-Pakistan War. Though heavily outnumbered, Flight Lieutenant Bhatti fought with exceptional courage and professional skill and shot down two Vampire aircraft in this engagement. This set an inspiring example for others to emulate. For his gallantry, determination and dedication to the Service he is awarded Sitara-i-Jur'at".

On September 13 in an encounter between PAF Sabres from Sargodha and IAF Gnats from No. 2 Squadron, an Indian Gnat flown by Flt Lt A.N. Kale was shot down by PAF F-86 Sabre, flown by Flt Lt Yusaf Ali Khan although the Indian pilot Flt Lt Kale managed to eject safely. The other Gnat flown by Sqn Ldr N.K.Malik was engaged and damaged in air combat by Flt Lt Bhatti. The experienced pilot Sqn Ldr N.K.Malik some how managed to reach near its base, where according to All India Radio the Gnat's pilot later died of wounds sustained during the combat. Kumar Narinder was said to have brought his damaged aircraft back to base and to have died during attempted landing. His funeral was attended by the Indian President. Flt Lt Yusaf Ali Khan was credited with a kill whereas, Flt Lt Bhatti was credited with damaging the IAF Gnat despite the later confirmation that the pilot Narinder Kumar Malik (S/L N.K.Malik) died of wounds and the Gnat crashed into ground during egress.

Bhatti while in the rank of Squadron Leader commanded the 25th squadron equipped with FT-6 from 1968 to 1970. During the 1971 Indo-Pak war he served in the 25th Squadron, stationed at Sargodha Airbase. He commanded the 19th Squadron from 1973 to 1974.

Post Air Force
After leaving PAF, he served as Ambassador / High Commissioner of Pakistan for Burundi, Madagascar, Malawi, & Tanzania from 1990 till 1992. After returning from the Ambassadorial duty His Excellency is happily settled in Sargodha looking after family farmlands in districts Jhang and Sargodha concentrating on growing citrus and guava orchards, bamboo and forest plantations besides various food crops.