Nishan-i-Haider
Captain Mohammad Sarwar, Punjab Regiment
Date of Shahadat : 27th July 1948
He was born in 1910
in Village Sanghori, District Rawalpindi. He was commissioned into the Punjab
Regiment, in 1944. During the Kashmir Operations soon after the birth of
Pakistan, as a Company Commander in the 2nd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment,
Captain Muhammad 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 got martyrdom when
his chest was hit by a burst of automatic fire.
Naik Saif Ali Janjua,
Azad Kashmir Regiment (Was awarded Hilal-e-Kashmir - an equivalent to
Nishan-i-Haider)
Date of Shahadat : 26th April 1948
Naik Saif Ali Khan was born on 25 April 1922 in Khandbaz
Tehsil Nakial (Azad Jammu & Kashmir). He was enlisted in the Royal Corps of
Engineers in British Indian Army on 18 March 1941. After completing his service
in the British Indian Army in 1947, he came back to his native town and started
establishing Haidri Force with the support of Sardar Fateh Muhammad Karailvi.
On 1st Janaury 1948, Haidri Force was raised as “Sher-e-Riasti Battalion” under
the command of Lt. Col. Muhammad Sher Khan. Due to his unflinching devotion and
undaunted courage, on the recognition of his dedication and commitment to the
cause, he was accoladed with the rank of Naik and was made platoon commander.
He set personal examples of gallantry and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy
at Bhudha Khanna where his platoon was given the responsibility to defend Budha
Khanna where he faced never-ending frontal and crossfire from machine guns. He
defended the post with chivalry, which he established with his few jawans and
repulsed many aggressive ventures by the enemy and imposed colossal losses on
them. The enemy used every mean to capture the post with two companies attack
and heavy Arty bombardment but with unwavering determination and passion for
Martyrdom bought the enemies on their knees. Despite facing all odds, he led
his jawans while setting personal example of bravery and valour and remained
steadfast and unmoved on the post. During the course of action, despite being
hit on his chest by Arty fire, he retained his position and frustrated the
Indian assault. Due to severe injuries he embraced Martyrdom on 26 October
1948. On 14th March 1949, the Defence Council of Azad Jammu & Kashmir
adorned him with Hilal-e-Kashmir (posthumous) and on 30th November 1995
Government of Pakistan initiated the gazette notification to declare his
Hilal-e-Kashmir equilent to Nishan-e Haider.
Major Tufail
Mohammad, Punjab Regiment
Date of Shahadat : 7th August 1958
He was born in 1914
in Hoshiarpur. He was commissioned into the 16th Punjab Regiment in 1943. In
August 1958, Major Tufail Muhammad, a Company Commander in the East Pakistan
Rifles, and his patrol encircled an Indian post in the Lakshmirpur area. And,
though mortally wounded in the hand-to-hand encounter that followed, Major
Tufail Muhammad continued to lead his troops till the Indians were driven out,
leaving four dead and three prisoners. He embraced martyrdom the same day i.e,
7 August 1958.
Major Raja Aziz
Bhatti, Punjab Regiment
Date of Shahadat : 12th September 1965
He was born in 1928
in Hong Kong. He was commissioned into the Punjab Regiment, in 1950. On 6
September 1965, as a Company Commander in the Burki area of the Lahore sector,
Major Raja Aziz Bhatti chose to stay with his forward platoon 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 small
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 and embraced
martyrdom on 10 September 1965.
Pilot Officer Rashid
Minhas, Pakistan Air Force
Date of Shahadat : 20th August 1971
He was born on 17 February 1951. He was commissioned as a
pilot in the Pakistan Air Force in 1971. Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas was
taxiing for take off on a routine training flight when an Instructor Pilot
forced his way into the rear cockpit, seized control of the aircraft and took
off. When Rashid Minhas realised 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 certain death, he damaged the controls and forced the aircraft to
crash thirty-two miles short of the border on 20 August 1971
Major Shabbir Sharif Frontier Force Regiment
Date of Shahadat : 7th December 1971
He was born on 28 April 1943 in Kunjah, Gujrat District. He
was commissioned into the Frontier Force Regiment on 19 April 1964. Major
Shabbir Sharif, as commander of a company of 6 Frontier Force Regiment, was
ordered in December 1971 to capture high ground near Sulemanki Headworks
defended by more than a company of the Assam Regiment supported by a squadron
of tanks. In a well organized 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 Shabbir 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 he embraced martyrdom by a direct hit in the afternoon of 6
December 1971.
Sowar Mohammad
Hussain, Armoured Corps
Date of Shahadat : 10th December 1971
He was born on 18 June 1949 in Dhok Pir Bakhsh (now Dhok
Muhammad Husain Janjua). He was enlisted as a driver on 3 September 1966.
Although only a driver in the 20th Lancers, when war broke out in 1971 Sowar
Muhammad Hussain took an active part in every battle in which his unit was
engaged unmindful of any danger, no mater how grave. When he spotted the enemy
close to 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 embraced
martyrdom on 10 December 1971.
Major Mohammad Akram, Frontier Force Regiment
Date of Shahadat : 15th December 1971
He was born on 4
April 1938 in Dingha, Gujrat District.
He was commissioned in the Frontier Force Regiment on 13 October 1963.
Major Muhammad Akram and a company of 4 Frontier Force 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 Muhammad
Akram embraced martyrdom during this epic battle on 5 December 1971
Lance Naik Mohammad
Mahfuz, Punjab Regiment
Date of Shahadat : 17th December 1971
He was born on 25
October 1944 in Pind Malikan (now Mahfuzabad), Rawalpindi district. He was
enlisted in the Army on 25 October 1962. Serving in ‘A’ Company of 15 Punjab
Regiment when war broke out in 1971, Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz was deployed on
the Wagha-Attari Sector where his company was pinned down by unceasing frontal
and crossfire from automatic weapons. Although his machine gun was destroyed by
an enemy shell, Muhammad 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, in the encounter he was hit with a bayonet. Although unarmed, he got
hold of the enemy and did another bayonet strangling with him. Due to serious
injuries he embraced martyrdom on the night of 17 December 1971.
Captain Karnal Sher
Khan, Sind Regiment
Date of Shahadat : 7th July 1999
He was born on 1 January 1970. He was commissioned in the
Army on 14 October 1994. Captain Karnal Sher Khan emerged as the symbol of
mettle and courage during the Kargil conflict on the Line of Control. 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 17,000 feet at Gultary, and repulsed many Indian attacks. After many
abortive attempts, the Indians on 5 July 1999 ringed the posts of Captain
Karnal Sher Khan with the help of two battalions and unleashed heavy mortar
fire and managed to capture some part of one of his posts. Despite facing all
odds, he led a counter-attack and re-captured the lost parts of his post. But during
the course, he was hit by the machine-gun fire and embraced ‘SHAHADAT’ at the
same post.
Havildar Lalak Jan,
Northern Light Infantry
Date of Shahadat : 7th July 1999
He was born on 1 Apr 1967. He was enlisted in the Army on 10
December 1984. He was serving in Northern Light Infantry Regiment when
skirmishes broke out in Kargil in 1999. Havildar Lalak Jan of the Northern
Light Infantry Regiment 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. Havildar Lalak Jan repulsed back many aggressive
ventures by the enemy and imposed colossal losses on them. On 7 July 1999,
Havildar Lalak Jan sustained serious injuries as enemies pounded the area with
heavy mortar shells. But despite being injured, he retained his position and
frustrated the Indian assault. Due to severe injuries he embraced martyrdom.