Rajput Nishan-e-Haider Holders – Pakistan’s Highest Military Award for Bravery
Nishan-e-Haider (Urdu: نشان حیدر, translated as “Emblem of Haider, where Haider is the epithet of Ali and means Lion”), is the highest military award given by Pakistan. It was established in 1957. It is awarded to military personnel, regardless of rank, for extraordinary bravery in combat. The award is considered to be the highest military award and is only awarded to those who have sacrificed their life. Its exclusivity may be gauged by the fact that since it was established only 10 awards have been made and given. To date all awards have been made posthumously (after the death). Of the 10 recipients, 9 have been from the Pakistan Army and one has been from the Pakistan Air Force. Pakistan has fought battles in 1948, 1956, 1965, 1971 and 1999. Most of all the Shaheeds have been of Rajput (Rajpoot) or Pathan families. Here I will mention only Rajput Shaheeds who have been awarded with Nishan-e-Haider. Rajput is a caste.Pilot Office Rashid Minhas Shaheed
Age: 20 years
Born 17 February 1951, commissioned as a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force. Pilot Officer Minhas was taxiing for take-off on a routine traning flight when an Instructor Pilot forced his way into the rear cockpit, seized control of the aircraft and took off. When Minhas realized that the absconding pilot was heading towards India, he tried to regain control of the plane but was unable to do so. Knowing that it meant certin death, he damaged the controls and forced the aircraft to crash thirty two miles short of the border on 20 August 1971. He died at the age of 20.
Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed
Age: 37 years
Born 1928 in Hong Kong. Commissioned into the Punjab Regiment, 1950. On 6 September 1965, as Company Commander in the Burki area of the Lahore sector, Major Bhatti chose to move with his forward platton under incessant artillery and tank attacks for five days and nights in the defence of the strategic BRB canal. Throughout, undaunted by constant fire from enemy shell arms, tanks and artillery, he organized the defence of the canal, directing his men to answer the fire until he was hit by an enemy tank shell which killed him on 10 September 1965. He was 37 years old.
Shabbir Sharif
Rana Shabbir Sharif also known as Rana Shabbir
Sharif Shaheed (28 April 1943 – 6 December 1971), was a Pakistani Army
officer. He is the only person ever who received both the Nishan-e-Haider and Sitara-e-Jurat for
his bravery. In addition, he is also a recipient of Sword of Honour and holds a unique
honor of having received the three most coveted awards of Pakistan Army Shabbir
Sharif is regarded as the most decorated officer of Pakistan Army and often
addressed as Army's Superman. He is nephew of another Nishan-e-Haider
holder Raja Aziz Bhatti Sharif is the elder
brother of General Raheel Sharif, the former Chief of
the Army Staff, Pakistan.
Early life
and education
He was born on 28 April 1943 in a Rajput family
at Kunjah, Gujrat District to
Major Rana Muhammad Sharif.[7] Sharif Completed his Matric from St. Anthony's High School, Lahore and
while he was at Government College Lahore that he
received a call to join Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul.
He used to play squash and won Army level swimming medal
while he was in 4th Frontier Force Regiment.
Military
career and death in action
He was commissioned in Pakistan Army on
19 April and after successfully completing his training, after which he was
awarded the Sword of Honor, he was posted to the 6th
Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment.
In the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Pakistan
Army launched an offensive on the Western front against the enemy. Shabbir, as
commander of a company of 6 Frontier Force Regiment, was ordered to capture
high ground overlooking Grumukhi Khera and Beri, a village in the Sulemanki
Sector.
On 3 December 1971, in a well-organized action, he fought
valiantly alongside his men and held Indian attacks at bay. He cleared the
Jhangar post with utmost courage by fearlessly passing through the minefield
laid by enemy and swimming across a water obstacle, the 'Sabuna
distributary',whilst under intense enemy fire and led his company to capture
the objective. During the day, his troops repelled over 15 Indian attempts to
recapture the high ground and furthermore, he and his men destroyed four enemy tanks
and held two Indian battalions at bay by killing 43 soldiers.
During an attack on the night of 5 December, Shabbir
jumped out of his trench on the call of an Indian Company Commander who dared
him for a hand-to-hand combat. Shabbir soon snatched the sten gun out of the
Indian major's hand and mortally wounded him. The gallant act demoralized the
Indian troops allowing Shabbir's men to consolidate their hard earned gains in
the captured area.[8]
On the afternoon of 6 Dec, the enemy launched another
counter attack preceded by air strikes and heavy artillery shelling. After
casualties amongst the crew, Shabbir Sharif took over as a gunner on an
anti-tank gun and started firing on the enemy tanks. While this fight was on,
one of the enemy tanks fired at him causing fatal injuries which resulted in
his death at the age of 28. His last words were quoted as: “Don’t lose the
bridge.” It was the same bridge he died defending from the enemy’s attack
Family
His younger brother, General Raheel Sharif,
became Chief of Army Staff, the
highest rank in the Pakistan Army, in November 2013.[4] He is also the relative of
another Nishan-e-Haider holder Raja Aziz
Bhatti.[6]
Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed
Age: 44 years
Born 1914 in Hoshiarpur. Commissioned into the 16th Punjab Regiment, 1943. Early in August, 1958, Major Tufail, a Company Commander in the East Pakistan Rifles, and his patrol encircled an Indian post in the Lakshmipur area. And, though mortally wounded in the hand-to-hand encounter that followed, Major Tufail continued to lead his troops till the Indians were driven out, leaving four dead and three prisoners. He died the same day on 7 August 1958 at the age of 44.
Jawan Sawar Muhammad Hussain Shaheed
Age: 22 years
Born 18th June 1949 in Dhok Pir Baksh (now Dhok Mohammad Husain Janjua). Enlisted as a driver on 3 September 1966. Although only a driver in the 20th Lancers, when war broke out in 1971, Sowar Mohammad Hussein took an active part in every battle in which his unit was engaged unmindful of any danger, no matter how grave. When he spotted the enemy digging in along a minefield near the village of Harar Khurd in December 1971 on his own initiative he directed accurate fire at the enemy resulting in the destruction of sixteen enemy tanks. But while directing fire from recoilless rifles, he was hit in the chest by a burst of machine-gun fire and died on 10 December 1971 at the age of 22.
Captain Muhammad Sarwer Shaheed
Age: 38 years
Born 1910, Village Sanghori, Commissioned into the Punjab Regiment, 1944. During the Kashmir Operations soon after the birth of Pakistan, as Company Commander in the 2nd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment, Captain Sarwar launched an attack causing heavy casualties against a strongly fortified enemy position in the Uri Sector under heavy machine-gun, grenade and mortar fire. But on 27 July 1948, as he moved forward with six of his men to cut their way through a barbed wire barrier, he died when his chest was riddled by a burst of automatic fire. He was 38 years old.
Other Nishan-e-Haider holders are Major Mohammad Akram Shaheed, Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfooz Shaheed, Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed, Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed and Havaldaar Lalak Jan Shaheed.
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