Bilal Omer Khan

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. He was posthumously awarded the Sitara-e-Basalat on Pakistan Day 2010. His cousin is the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan. He held the positions of Director General Armoured Corps (Pakistan), Director General Plans and Operations at Joint Staff Headquarters (Pakistan), commander 11th Infantry Division (Pakistan), commander 10th Infantry Division, and commander 111th Infantry Brigade (Pakistan).

On 23 August 2005, as GOC 10 Division he was the chief guest at the Pakistan Cricket Board/Pepsi National school cricket tournament played between Ibrahim Ali Bhai School Karachi and Government High School Nanakpura Peshawar.

Early life and family

He was born on 3 February 1954 to a respected Burki Pashtun family. He grew up in Lalazar Colony Rawalpindi. His father Omer Khan, was a retired Colonel in the Pakistan Army. Bilal has one brother, Talha Omer who retired as a major in the Pakistan Army and a sister Yasmin Salman Omer. He attended the Abbottabad Public School. Including Bilal and Talha, the Burki family has produced several military officials and cricketers such as Zahid Ali Akbar Khan, Javed Burki, Imran Khan, and Majid Khan (cricketer).

Bilal married Nabeela and has two sons, Arsalan Omer Khan, Ibrahim Omer Khan, and a daughter Zahra Omer Khan.

As President of Pakistan Polo Association and Equestrian Federation of Pakistan, he represented Pakistan at the 2007 Polo World Cup in New Zealand.

Military career

From the 50th PMA course, he was commissioned into the army in the 19th Lancers on 27 October 1974.

On 8 July 1980, he was called back to the Pakistan Armys 23 Division and relinquished the charge of General Staff Officer - Grade III at FC Baluchistan. He graduated from the Pakistan Command and Staff College in 1986. He went to Saudi Arabia after completing mid-level infantry officers course. He received his Master of Arts in International relations from the University of Denver.

As a lieutenant colonel, he was battalion commander of the 2nd Pakistan Battalion (Quaid-i-Azam's own).

On 16 January 2004, the Pakistan Army selection board reviewed 104 brigadiers and deemed 18 fit for promotion to Major General, including Bilal, constituting 2.2% of those commissioned in 1974-75.

Death

On 4 December 2009, a terrorist attack occurred at the Parade Lane Mosque while Bilal and other worshippers were praying namaz. During the attack, Bilal's son says Bilal tried to disarm one of the terrorists, allowing others to escape. His son mentioned that his father was shot in the neck from behind by another terrorist at point blank range and grenade shrapnel was later discovered in his legs.

He is buried at the Westridge Army Graveyard in Rawalpindi.

Legacy

Bilal Omer Shaheed Colony - Parade Lane, Major General Bilal Omer Shaheed Tennis Championship, and Maj. Gen. Bilal Omer Khan Shaheed Memorial Polo Cup 2009 held from 29 December 2009 to 3 January 2010, are all named after him.

Awards & Decorations

References