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.
Shabbir Sharif (28 April 1943 – 6 December 1971) was a Pakistani Army officer who was killed in Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and was awarded Nishan-e-Haider for his actions. He is the only person ever who received both the Nishan-e-Haider and Sitara-e-Jurat for his bravery. He is regarded as the most decorated officer of the Pakistan Army.
Early life and education
Sharif was born on 28 April 1943 in a Rajput family at Kunjah, Gujrat District to Major Rana Muhammad Sharif. He attended St. Anthony's High School, Lahore. While at Government College Lahore, he received a call to join Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul.He used to play squash and won an Army level swimming medal while he was in 4th Frontier Force Regiment.
Military career
He was commissioned in Pakistan Army on 19 April nd 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.Martyred
In the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Pakistan Army launched an offensive on the Western front against the enemy. Sharif, 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-organised action, he fought alongside his men and held Indian attacks at bay. He cleared the Jhangar post by 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. 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, he jumped out of his trench on the call of an Indian Company Commander who dared him for a hand-to-hand combat. He soon snatched the sten gun out of the Indian major's hand and mortally wounded him. The act demoralized the Indian troops allowing his men to consolidate their hard earned gains in the captured area.
On the afternoon of 6 December, the enemy launched another counterattack preceded by air strikes and heavy artillery shelling. After casualties amongst the crew, he 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 thus killing him. 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 was the Chief of Army Staff (November 2013 - November 2016), the highest rank in the Pakistan Army. He is also the relative of another Nishan-e-Haider holder, Raja Aziz Bhatti.
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