Jawan Sowar Mohammad Hussain Shaheed Nishan-i-Haider

[Jawan Sowar Mohammad Hussain Shaheed Nishan-i-Haider Brief History]

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. 

Sowar Muhammad Hussain was a soldier on the Pakistan Army and the first soldier to be awarded Nishan-e-Haider.

Early life and career

Hussain was born on 18 June 1949 in Dhok Pir Bakhsh (now Dhok Muhammad), Pakistan. He joined the 20 Lancers of the Armoured Corps in September 1966.

Martyred

Hussain was a driver but he would took part in every battle his unit was engaged in during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. On 5 December 1971, in the Zafarwal-Shakargarh area, he delivered ammunition from trench to trench despite fire from the enemy. On 10 December 1971, he took part in dangerous missions and went out four fighting patrols. During this day, he spotted an enemy tank and directed a recoil-less rifle crew towards the tank and was responsible for the destruction of 16 enemy tanks. He was hit in the chest by a burst of machine-gun fire, while directing fire from recoilless rifles, and was martyred.