Tributes have been paid to Abdul Khalique Bhatti (pictured above), one of a trio of visionaries who established the highly successful Bestway Group.

Mr Bhatti died aged 89, with the company making the announcement earlier this month.

Mr Bhatti was touted as one of the pivotal figures behind the success of the group. In 1968, AK Bhatti, AK Chaudhary and Sir Anwar Pervez established their first retail shop on Old Brompton Road before venturing into the wholesale sector in 1976.

Under Mr Bhatti’s leadership Acton, Southall, Leicester and Hackney cash and carries were opened. These continue to be some of the best performing depots of Bestway Wholesale.

Making the announcement, Bestway Wholesale said “It is with a heavy heart, that we are sharing the incredibly sad news about the passing last week of one of the earliest members of the Bestway family, Abdul Khalique Bhatti.

Abdul Khalique Bhatti, a childhood friend of our Founder & Chairman Emeritus, Sir Anwar Pervez, started his career at Bestway in the late 1970s at the Acton warehouse and later became the general manager of Southall before moving to the head office in Park Royal.

For over 40 years, he was a director of Bestway Holdings Ltd and a trustee of the Bestway Foundation in the UK and Pakistan.”

Mr Bhatti made the decision to retire in 2016 to spend more time with his family in Pakistan.

He passed away peacefully after a long illness and was buried in his ancestral home in Pakistan over the weekend.

Bestway Wholesale added, “Bhatti will always be remembered for his gentlemanly style and sense of humour.

He will be deeply missed by everyone in the Bestway family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”