Imtiaz Bhatti
Imtiaz Ahmed Bhatti | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 April 1933 Gujrat, British India |
| Died | 2 July 2024 (aged 91) |
| Allegiance | Pakistan |
| Branch | Pakistan Air Force |
| Years of service | 1953–1988 |
| Rank | Air Commodore |
| Service number | Pak/3757 |
| Unit | |
| Commands | No. 19 Squadron No. 25 Squadron PAF |
| Battles / wars | Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 |
| Awards | Sitara-e-Jurat Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Basalat |
Imtiaz Bhatti SJ SI(M) SBt (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.