Nishan-e-Haider (Urdu: نشان حیدر) (abbreviated as "NH") is Pakistan's highest military gallantry award. "Nishan-e-Haider" literally means "Emblem of the Lion" in the Urdu language. The word "Haider" is also the epithet of Ali, who is referred to as the 'Lion of God', a valiant warrior and leader.
The Nishan-e-Haider can only be awarded to members of the Pakistan Armed Forces for the highest acts of extraordinary bravery in the face of the enemy in air, land or sea. Its exclusivity can be gauged by the fact that, since Pakistan's independence in 1947, it has been awarded only ten times (now eleven, due to Hilal-e-Kashmir being equal to Nishan-e-Haider). 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)
Nishan e Haider History
The Nishan-e-Haider was established by the Government of Pakistan and named after Ali ibn Abi Talib on 16 March 1957, the year that Pakistan became a republic. It was applied retrospectively from the date of Pakistan's independence on 14 August 1947. It is Pakistan's highest award and takes precedence over all military and civil awards. Of the ten Nishan-e-Haider recipients to date, nine have been from the Army and one from the Air Force.
Although some consider it equivalent to the British Victoria Cross and the United States Medal of Honor, it is unique in that it has so far been awarded only posthumously.
Nishan e Haider Criterion
The Nishan-e-Haider can be awarded to all ranks of the Armed Forces for showing feats of extraordinary courage in confronting the enemy. As a matter of practice and precedent, it has only been awarded where it has been established that the recipient acted despite high risks and was killed in the act.
Nishan-e-Haider Manufacturing
The Nishan-e-Haider is manufactured by Pakistan Mint on order of the Ministry of Defence. It is forged from captured enemy equipment and consists of 88% copper, 10% tin and 2% zinc.
Born: 1910, Singhori Village, District of Rawalpindi
Commissioned: 1944, Punjab Regiment
During the Kashmir Operations soon after the birth of Pakistan, as Company Commander of 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 the 27th 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 heavy machine gun fire.
Born: 1914, Hoshiarpur
Commissioned: 1943, 16th Punjab Regiment
Early in August 1958, Major Tufail, a Company Commander in the East Pakistan Rifles, encircled an illegal Indian post, which violated the internationally recognized boundary between the two countries, 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 the 7th August 1958.
Born: 1928, Hong Kong
Commissioned: 1950, Punjab Regiment
On 6th September 1965, as Company Commander in the Burki Area of the Lahore Sector, Major Bhatti chose to move with his forward platoon under incessant artillery and tank attacks for five days and nights in Defence of the strategically vital BRB Canal. Throughout, undaunghted 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 which killed him on 10th September 1965.
Born: 1938, Dingha Village, District of Gujrat
Commissioned: 1963, Frontier Force Regiment
Major Muhammad Akram and a company of the 4th FF Regiment which he commanded in the forward area of the Hilli district, in East Pakistan in 1971, came under continuous and heavy air, artillery and Armour attacks. But for an entire fortnight, despite enemy superiority in both numbers and fire power, he and his men, in near super human ability, repulsed every attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Major Akram died during this epic battle in 1971.
Born: 17th February 1951
Commissioned: 1971, Pilot, P.A.F.
Pilot Officer 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 Minhas realized that the absconding pilot was heading towards India, he tried to regain control of the plane 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 20th August 1971.
Born: 1943, Kunjah Village, District of Gujrat
Commissioned: 1964, Frontier Force Regiment
Major Shabir Sharif as commander of 6 FF Regiment, was ordered in December 1971 to capture high ground near Sulemanki headwork defended by more than a company of the Assam Regiment supported by a squadron of tanks. In a well nigh super human 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 he was killed by a direct hit on the afternoon of 6th December.
Born: 1949, Dhok Pir Bakhsh (now Dhok Muhammad Hussain Janjua)
Enlisted: 1966, Driver
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 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 of their tanks. But while directing fire from recoilless rifles, he was hit in the chest by a burst of machine gun fire and died on 10th December 1971.
Born: 1944, Pind Malikan (now Mahfuzabad) District of Rawalpindi
Enlisted: 1962, Sipahi
Serving in the 'A' Company of the 15th Punjab Regiment, when the war started in 1971, Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz was deployed on the Wagah-Attari Sector in East Pakistan where his company was pinned down by unceasing frontal and cross fire 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 and amidst the enemy, he caught hold of one of the enemy and was strangling him when another bayoneted him to death during the night of 17th December 1971.
Enlisted: 1990, Second Lt.
Captain Karnal Sher and Hav. Lalak Jan 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.
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.
| № | Name of the recipient | Regiment | Rank | Battle | Date of martyrdom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saif Ali Janjua Hilal-e-Kashmir | 18 Azad Kashmir Regiment, Pakistan Army | Naik | Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 | 26th April 1948 |
| 2 | Raja Muhammad Sarwar | 2/1 Punjab Regiment, Pakistan Army | Captain | Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 | 27 July 1948 |
| 3 | Tufail Mohammad | 16th Punjab Regiment Border Guards East Pakistan Rifles, Pakistan Army | Major | Indo-Pak Border skirmish 1958 | 7 August 1958 |
| 4 | Raja Aziz Bhatti | 17 Punjab Regiment, Pakistan Army | Major | Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 | 10 September 1965 |
| 5 | Rashid Minhas | No. 2 Fighter Conversion Unit, Pakistan Air Force | Pilot Officer | Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 | 20 August 1971 |
| 6 | Muhammad Akram | 4 Frontier Force Regiment, Pakistan Army | Major | Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 | 5 December 1971 |
| 7 | Shabbir Sharif | 6 Frontier Force Regiment, Pakistan Army | Major | Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 | 6 December 1971 |
| 8 | Muhammad Hussain Janjua | 20 Lancers (Armoured Corps), Pakistan Army | Sowar | Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 | 10 December 1971 |
| 9 | Muhammad Mahfuz | 15 Punjab Regiment, Pakistan Army | Lance naik | Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 | 17 December 1971 |
| 10 | Karnal Sher Khan | 27 Sindh Regiment/12 Northern Light Infantry, Pakistan Army | Captain | Kargil War | 5 July 1999 |
| 11 | Lalak Jan | 12 Northern Light Infantry, Pakistan Army | Havaldar | Kargil War | 7 July 1999 |
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