Nishan-e-Haider: A tribute to the heroes of Pakistan
Nishan-e-Haider is Pakistan’s highest military gallantry award. The literal meaning of Nishan-e-Haider is “Mark of the Lion” or “Emblem of the Lion”. This supreme award is named, after the fourth Khalifa of Islam, Hazrat Ali (R.A.). The word “Haider” is the title or epithet of Hazrat Ali (R.A.), referred to as the “Lion of Allah”. Hazrat Ali R.A is considered the bravest person by the beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW. He is known for his Valour, bravery, and fearlessness throughout the world.
Nishan-e-Haider is awarded to the members of the armed forces who show an act of great bravery and devotion to the motherland or for acts of heroism in extremely dangerous situations in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea, or in the air.
The Nishan-e-Haider was established on 16, March 1957 by the Government of Pakistan. It was named after Hazrat Ali R.A. Nishan-e-Haider however it was applied retrospectively before its establishment in 1948. It is the highest military award and predominates all the military and civil awards. Hilal-e-Kashmir is the equivalent of Nishan-e-Haider for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The Nishan-e-Haider is followed by other military and civil awards including Hilal-i-Jur’at, Sitara-i-Jur’at, and Tamgha-i-Jur’at.
Nishan-e-Haider has been awarded posthumously to 10 brave people since the independence of Pakistan. The number becomes 11 including, the only recipient of Hilal-e-Kashmir, NaikSaif Ali Janjua (18 Azad Kashmir Regiment, Pakistan Army, for bravery and act of Valour in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, martyred on 26, October 1948). Out of the ten recipients, nine were from the Pakistan Army and one from the Pakistan Air Force.
Nishan-e-Haider is manufactured by the Pakistan Press (a coin press located in Shalimar Town, Lahore, Pakistan) at the request of the Ministry of Defence. The medal is forged from using metal captured from the enemy’s equipment. It consists of 88% copper, 10% tin, and 2% zinc.
Account of the recipients
- Captain Raja Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed was a brave captain in the Pakistan Army. He was awarded Nishan-e-Haider for his bravery in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He was the first recipient of Nishan-e-Haider. He embraced Shahadat in an attempt to cut the barbed wire barrier laid by the enemy. He came under a heavy machine-gun fire and embraced shahadat at the spot.
- MajorTufail Muhammad: A commander and an embodiment of courage, belonging to the 16th Punjab Regiment of Pakistan Army. He was leading a company of the East Pakistan Rifles near the town of Lakshmipur when he embraced martyrdom on 7, August 1958 in a skirmish between India and Pakistan.
- Major Raja Aziz Bhatti belonging to the 17 Punjab Regiment of Pakistan Army, embraced martyrdom on 10, September 1965, during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He was leading his company in the general area Burki of the Lahore Sector. Major Aziz was directing the artillery fire when an enemy tank shell hit him.
- Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas has the honor of being the youngest person to receive the most prestigious military award of Pakistan. Moreover, he is the only officer from Pakistan Air Force to receive Nishan-e-Haider. He belonged to Regiment No. 2 of the Fighter Conversion Unit of PAF. He embraced Shahadat on 20, August 1971 in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He lost his life in an effort to jeopardize the evil intentions of his traitor instructor pilot.
- Major Muhammad Akram embraced martyrdom in the “Battle of Hilli”, During the 1971 Indo – Pak war. He was leading a rifle company of the 4th Frontier Force Regiment in the forward areas of the District Hilli. After almost two weeks of blocking the enemy’s frontline، regardless of superiority in their number, Major and his company were subject to heavy fire. Instead of surrendering, these brave soldiers chose to lose their lives in the attempt.
- MajorShabbir Sharif embraced Shahadat on the afternoon of 6, December 1971 in an attempt to destroy the enemy’s squadron of tanks. It was the Indo-Pakistani battle of 1971 when Major led a team of brave soldiers of 6 Frontier Force Regiment to capture a high ground near Sulemanki Headwork which was defended by more than a company of the Indian Assam Regiment with a support of a squadron of tanks. Major and his men killed 43 enemy soldiers and destroyed 4 tanks in their attempt.
- SawarMuhammad Hussain Janjua belonged to 20 Lancers (Armoured Corps) of the Pakistan Army. He found an opportunity during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 to destroy sixteen of the enemy’s tanks with his team on his initiative. He embraced Shahadat when he was hit in the chest by a burst of machine-gun fire on 10, December 1971.
- Naik Muhammad Mahfuz embraced martyrdom on the night of December 17th, 1971 during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He belonged to the 15 Punjab Regiment of the Pakistan Army. During the war, he was serving in the “A” company. His unit was deployed on the Wagah-Attari sector near Lahore. He was killed in the enemy’s bunker while trying to strangle another enemy soldier.
- CaptainKarnal Sher Khan set a perfect example of a true leader and was a nightmare for the enemies. He belonged to the 27 Sindh Regiment/12 Northern Light Infantry of Pakistan Army. Karnal Sher Khan embraced Shahadat on 5, July 1999 during the Kargil War on the Line of Control. In his successful attempt to recapture the lost part of the post, he was subject to heavy machine-gun fire from the enemies.
- HavaldarLalak Jan was an appointment holder in the 12 Northern Light Infantry. He volunteered himself to be deployed on the frontline, where he proved himself as an undefeatable obstacle for the enemy’s advances. On 7, July 1999, Lalak Jan succumbed to his injuries while defending his post when he was subject to heavy mortar fire from the enemies.