Military Wiki
Bilal Omer Khan
بلال عمر خان
MajGenBilalOmer
Director General Armoured Corps[1]

In office
? – 4 December 2009
Personal details
Born (1954-02-03)3 February 1954
Died 4 December 2009(2009-12-04) (aged 55)
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Resting place Pindi Army Graveyard
Spouse(s) ??? – 2009 (his death)
Relations
  • Javed Burki (cousin)
  • Imran Khan (cousin)
  • Zach Khan (cousin)
  • Majid Khan (cousin)
  • Shahid J. Burki (cousin)[2]
Children 3[2]
Military service
Nickname(s) Billy[6]
Allegiance Flag of Pakistan Pakistan
Service/branch Flag of the Pakistani Army Pakistan Army
Years of service 1973–2009
Rank OF-7 Pakistan Army US-O8 insignia Major General
Unit 19th Lancers
Commands
Battles/wars
Awards

Major General Bilal Omer Khan SBt (Pashto, Urdu language: بلال عمر خان

3 February 1954 – 4 December 2009) was a two-star rank general in the Pakistan Army who was killed in the December 2009 Rawalpindi attack while serving as the director general of the Pakistan Armoured Corps.[3] He posthumously awarded the Sitara-e-Basalat.[2]

Early life[]

He was born on 3 February 1954 to a Burki[6] Pashtun family. The Burki family has produced several military generals and cricketers such as Zahid Ali Akbar Khan, Wajid Ali Khan Burki, Imran Khan, Javed Burki, Majid Khan, and Shahid Javed Burki.

Military career[]

In 1973 at the age of 19, he was commissioned into the army in the 19th Lancers. He served as the commander of the 111th Infantry Brigade in Pakistan[6] and as Director General Joint Staff Headquarters.

Mentorship[]

He was a mentor to junior army officers and air force polo players at the Rawalpindi Polo Club.[6] Wing Commander Shafiq had said that after maghrib prayers Major General Bilal would guide them on polo and give them tips on how to play better and how to win crucial fixtures.[6]

2009 Parade Lane Mosque attack and death[]

On 4 December 2009, he and other worshippers were praying namaz at the Parade Lane Mosque and were bowing in prayer, when suddenly explosions and gunfire rang out. Most of the people died on impact while a few others managed to escape. Bilal unharmed, put his shoes back on and got ahold of one of the terrorists, trying to disarm him, which led to the other terrorists focusing their attention on Bilal. The distraction was a key opportunity for others to escape. While several escaped, Bilal was shot at point blank range by another terrorist and was killed in the terrorist attack.[2]

When his son Arsalan went to recover his body from the mosque, he said "I saw my father lay there with his hand under his head as though he was in a peaceful slumber."[2]

Personal life[]

He was very passionate about the sport of Polo and was known by his friends and family as an excellent Polo player and a good hunter.[citation needed]

Bilal was married and had two sons and a daughter.[6]

Legacy[]

The Parade Lane by the mosque bears his name.[citation needed]

A tennis championship is named after him at the army polo club, Major General Bilal Omer Shaheed Tennis Championship.[9]

References[]

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