Nishan-e-Haider

Nishan-e-Haider

Pakistan's Highest Military Award

Nishan-e-Haider  translated as "Emblem of Haider, where Haider is the epithet of Hazrat Ali and means Lion", abbreviated as NH) is the highest military decoration given by Pakistan (it is the equivalent to the Victoria Cross and the Medal of Honor under the British Honours System and the United States Honors System respectively). It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic, however, it was instituted retroactively from Independence in 1947. 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 has only been awarded to those who have sacrificed their life for the country. Its exclusivity may be gauged by the fact that since it was established only 11 awards have been made, along with one equivalent award. To date all awards have been made posthumously. However, death of the individual during the act of extreme courage is not mandatory for qualification for Nishan-e-Haider. Of the 11 recipients, 10 have been from the Pakistan Army, one has been from the Pakistan Air Force and no one from Pakistan Navy.

Captain Muhammad Sarwer Shaheed:

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.

Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed:

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.

Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed:

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.

Pilot Office Rashid Minhas Shaheed:

Born 17 February 1951

Ccommissioned 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 tha 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.

Jawan Sawar Muhammad Hussain Shaheed:

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.

Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed:

Born 4 April 1938 in Dingha, Gujrat District.

Commissioned in the Frontier Force Regiment on 13 October 1963.

Major Mohammad Akram and a company of 4 FF Regiment which he commanded in the forward area in Hilli district, in East Pakistan in 1971, came under incessant air, artillery and armour attacks.

But for an entire fortnight, despite enemy superiority in both numbers and fire power, he and his men repulsed every attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy.

Major Akram died during this epic battle in 1971 at the age of 33.

Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfooz Shaheed:

Born 25 October 1944 in Pind Malikan (now Mahfuzabad), Rawalpindi district.

Enlisted in the Army on 25 October 1962.

Serving in 'A' Company of 15 Punjab Regiment when war broke out in 1971, Lance Naik Mohammad Mahfuz was deployed on the Wagha-Attari Sector in East Pakistan where his company was pinned down by unceasing frontal and crossfire from automatic weapons.

Although his machine gun was destroyed by an enemy shell, Mahfuz advanced towards an enemy bunker whose automatic fire had inflicted heavy casualties. Even though wounded in both legs by shell splinters, when he reached the bunker he stood up and pounced on the enemy, but was hit.

Although unarmed, he caught hold of one enemy was slowly strangling him when another bayoneted him to death during the night on 17 December 1971. He was 27 years old.

Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed:

Born 28 April 1943 in Kunjah, Gujrat District.

Commissioned into the Frontier Force Regiment on 19 April 1964.

Major Shabbir Shariff as commander of a company of 6 FF Regiment, was ordered in December 1971 to capture high ground near Sulemanki than a company of the Assam Regiment supported by a squardon of tanks.

In a wellnigh superhuman action, for the next three days and nights after crossing a minefield and massive obstacles and killing forty-three soldiers and destroying four tanks, Major Sharif and his men held two enemy battalions at bay.

But after he took over an anti-tank gun from his gunner in an attack was killed by a direct hit in the afternoon of 6 December. He was 28 years old.

Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed:

Enlisted: 1990, Second Lt.

Captain Karnal Sher joined those eight legendary heroes who received the highest military award of Nishan-i-Haider for laying down their lives in defence of the beloved motherland.

Captain Karnal Sher Khan emerged as the symbol of mettle and courage during the Kargil conflict on the Line of Control (LoC). He set personal examples of bravery and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. He defended the five strategic posts, which he established with his jawans at the height of some 17,000 feet at Gultary, and repulsed many Indian attacks.

After many abortive attempts, the enemy on July 5 ringed the post of Capt. Sher Khan with the help of two battalion and unleashed heavy mortar firing and managed to capture some part of the post. Despite facing all odds, he lead a counter-attack and re- captured the lost parts.

But during the course he was hit by the machine-gun fire and embraced Shahadat at the same post. He is the first officer from the NWFP province to be awarded with Nishan-i-Haider.

Havaldaar Lalak Jan Shaheed:

Hav. Lalak Jan of the Northern Light Infantry (NLI) was one of those many who as a junior leader fought from the forefront to thwart heavy Indian attacks. He volunteered himself to be deployed on the front positions located at the jagged peak in May 1999.

Hav. Lalak driven back many aggressive ventures by the enemy and imposed colossal losses on them. On July 7, Hav. Lalak sustained serious injuries as enemies pounded the area with heavy mortar shelling.

But despite being injured, he retained his position and frustrated the Indian assault. He, however, succumbed to his injuries at the same post he was defending. Hav.

Lalak was awarded with the Nishan-i-Haider for his dauntless courage and devotion.

We salute the Soldiers of Pakistan Army who fought and gave their lives for our great country, Pakistan. The Highest Military Award of Pakistan Has Been Awarded to Shaheed Soldiers Who Have Shown Bravery And Courage in Times Of War & Border Battles (1948, 1956, 1965, 1971, 1999) -