Bilal Omer Khan | |
---|---|
بلال عمر خان | |
![]() | |
Director General Pakistan Armoured Corps | |
In office February 2009 – 4 December 2009 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 3 February 1954 |
Died | 4 December 2009 Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan | (aged 55)
Resting place | Westridge Army Graveyard, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan |
Spouse | Nabeela Bilal |
Relations | Javed Burki (cousin) Imran Khan (cousin) Majid Khan (cousin)[1] |
Children | 3[1] |
Education | Abbottabad Public School[2] Pakistan Military Academy Command and Staff College Quetta University of Denver (MA) |
Nickname | Billy[3] |
Military service | |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1973–2009 |
Rank | ![]() ![]() |
Unit | 19th Lancers |
Commands | Pakistan Armoured Corps[4] DG of Operations & Planning JS HQ (Pakistan) Pakistan Rangers[5][6] 11th Infantry Division (PAK) 10th Infantry Division 111th Infantry Brigade[3] |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Hilal-i-Imtiaz[7] Sitara-e-Basalat Marco Polo Sheep Trophy[3] |
Service number | PA-16264 |
Major General Bilal Omer Khan HI(M) SBt (Pashto, Urdu:بلال عمر خان; 3 February 1954 – 4 December 2009) known affectionately as Billy was a two-star rank general in the Pakistan Army who died in the December 2009 Rawalpindi attack along with 39 others.[4] Bilal was posthumously awarded the Sitara-e-Basalat on Pakistan Day 2010.[8][9] His cousin is the former Prime Minister Imran Khan.[10][11][12] He held the positions of Director General Armoured Corps (Pakistan), Director General Plans and Operations at JS HQ (Pakistan), commander 11th Infantry Division (PAK), commander 10th Infantry Division, and commander 111th Infantry Brigade.[3][13][14][15]
On 23 August 2005, as the GOC 10 Division, Bilal was the chief guest at the Pakistan Cricket Board and Pepsi National School Cricket Tournament, where Ibrahim Ali Bhai School Karachi competed against Government High School Nanakpura Peshawar.[16]
SITARA-I-BASALAT Following officers have been conferred with Sitara-i-Basalat: Major General Bilal Omer Khan (Shaheed), HI (M), AC, Brigadier Syed Hussain Abbas Shah (Shaheed), Punjab, Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Umer, FF and Major Mudassar Razzaq, Avn.
Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) has been awarded to Maj-Gen Muhammad Akram Sahi, Punjab; Maj-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, FF; Maj- Gen Muhammad Farooq, Artillery; Maj-Gen Muhammad Tahir Saeed, ASC; Maj-Gen Masood Hasan, Artillery; Maj-Gen Muhammad Mustafa Khan, AC; Maj-Gen Ayaz Saleem Rana, AC; Maj-Gen Naeem Khalid Lodhi, Engineering Corps; Maj-Gen Qasim Qureshi, Punjab; Maj-Gen Bilal Omer Khan, AC; Maj-Gen Imtiaz Ahmed, Engineers; Maj-Gen Muhammad Javed Khan, AMC; Maj-Gen Abdul Malik, AMC; Rear Admiral Shahid Lateef, Navy; Rear Admiral Noman Bashir, Navy; Air Vice-Marshal Hifazatullah Khan, PAF; Air Vice-Marshal M. Ikramullah Bhatti, PAF.
Today marks one year of that horrifying day when heartless terrorists attacked a mosque and ruthlessly murdered men and children, who were offering Friday prayers. These inhuman beings, who profess to be Muslims are obviously not, since they acted against all the norms religion teaches us, caring not a wit that they were attacking innocent men and children, who had done them no harm. Among the many who were crowned as 'martyrs' that fateful day was the bravest of them all, a senior officer, who confronted the terrorists and lost his life while saving that of many others, Major General Bilal Omer Khan — a caring and loving husband and father; dearly beloved of all his siblings; a friend of friends; a humble human being and a great sportsman. Since he was a soldier and was often posted away from his home base, to this day his family is still finding it hard to believe he has gone for good and expects him to turn up one day with that lovely smile of his and say, 'What's up?' Loved and respected by all those who served under him; those who knew him personally and even those who met him casually, he was truly an officer and a gentleman. Dearest Bilal — we may not understand why you left us so soon, in the prime of your life; or why you left before any of us were ready to say goodbye; but slowly, eventually we will begin to realise not only that you have left us, but that you lived and gave us many memories that are too beautiful to forget. The example you set and the values you espoused will be difficult to follow, but making an effort to do so will be the greatest tribute to you, who died as bravely as you lived.And while thinking of you, we pray for the souls of those who attained 'shahdat' along with you and hope their families have found peace after this great tragedy, which has left an indelible mark on the lives of all who were affected.
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Tariq Majid yesterday returned from his six days visit to Jordan. On his arrival, he was received by Major General Bilal Omer Director General Operations and Plans and other senior officers of Joint Staff Headquarters at Islamabad Airport.