Nishan-i-Haider

All you want to know about Nishan-i-Haider

Nishan-e-Haider

Awarded by Pakistan
Type Gallantry Award
Eligibility Military only (Conferrable on all ranks)
Awarded for "... to those who have performed acts of greatest heroism or most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger and have shown bravery of the highest order or devotion to the country, in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea or in the air ..."[1]
Status Currently awarded
Statistics
First awarded First Kashmir War, 1948
Last awarded Kargil War, 1999
Total awarded 10
Posthumous
awards		 all
Precedence
Next (higher) None
Next (lower) (2) Hilal-i-Jurat
(3) Sitara-i-Jurat
(4) Tamgha-i-Jurat

Nishan-e-Haider (Urdu: نشان حیدر, translated as "The Mark of Haider, where Haider is the name of Ali and means Lion", abbreviated as NH), is the highest military award given by Pakistan. It is posthumously awarded to military personnel for extraordinary courage and valour beyond the call of duty in face of adversity in defence of the motherland. There are only a very few parallels to the Nishan-e-Haider in other militaries in the world because being killed in the line of duty is a condition-precedent for the award of Nishan-e-Haider. Its exclusivity may be gauged by the fact that in over 3 major wars and 1 major conflict fought by Pakistan, only 10 Nishan-e-Haider's (and one equivalent) have been awarded.

Contents

Origins

The award has most probably taken its origin from the bravery of the fourth caliph Ali bin Abu Talib and his family (Imam Hassan and Iman Hussain). There's a slogan for it as well called Narai-Haderi, YA ALI.

The Medal

  • Category: Operational (Awarded to deceased members of the Armed Forces whose death occurred during times of conflict)
  • Definition: It is the highest gallantry award and holds seniority among civil and military awards. It is open to all ranks for acts of heroism/conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger or devotion to the country in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea or in the air.

The Nishan-e-Haider can only be awarded posthumously to both men and women. The medal has been awarded to only ten military personnel even though Pakistan has been involved in three wars (1948, 1965, 1971) and a major conflict in Kargil with India during the summer of 1999.

The families of the recipients of the Nishan-e-Haider are entitled to 75 acres of agricultural land and government support for up to three dependants of the deceased soldier.

Recipients

Nishan-e-Haider recipients receive an honorary title as a sign of respect: Shaheed meaning martyr for deceased recipients and Ghazi meaning victor for living recipients. To date, no living person has received the award.

  1. Captain. Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed (1910–July 27, 1948), 6/8 Punjab
  2. Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed (1914–August 7, 1958), 1 Battlion East Bengal Regiment
  3. Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed (1928–September 10, 1965), 17 Punjab
  4. Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed (1938–1971), 4 FF
  5. Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed (1951–August 20, 1971), PAF Training Squadron
  6. Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed (1943–December 6, 1971), 6 FF
  7. Jawan Sawar Muhammad Hussain Shaheed(1949–December 10, 1971), 20 Lancers
  8. Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed (1944–December 17, 1971), 15 Punjab
  9. Captain. Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed (1970–July 5, 1999), 27 Sindh
  10. Havaildar Lalak Jan Shaheed (1967–July 7, 1999), 12 NLI.
  1. Naik Saif Ali Shaheed. Was awarded Hilal-e-Kashmir, from the government of Azad Kashmir in the 1948 War, this award has since been made the equivalent of the Nishan-e-Haider and is considered as one[2].


Trivia

District Gujrat has the most recipients, with, Sarwar, Tufail, Bhatti, Akram and Sharif being from that district. Rashid Minhas is the only non-army and the youngest recipient, while Muhammad Hussain is the only Private, and only non-infantryman to win it. The Punjab Regiment has four awards, with the Frontier Force two, Sindh and NLI one each, while the armoured corps and the air force have one each as well. The Baloch and Azad Kahmir Regiments do not as yet have a recipient. However, Captain Sarwars battalion is now in the Baloch regiment, and 27 Sindh was originally in the Baloch Regiment.

Gallery

Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed
Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed
Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed
Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed
Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed
Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed
Jawan Sawar Muhammad Hussain Shaheed
Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed
Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed
Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaheed

Notes & References

  1. ^ PAF Combat website on military awards
  2. ^ http://www.ispr.gov.pk/Archive&Press/Sept2007/6-Sep-2007.htm

See also

External links


v • d • e
Nishan-e-Haider recipients
1948-1970
1971
1972 to date
v • d • e
Current
Obsolete
v • d • e
Flag of the Pakistan Army  Army
Naval Jack of Pakistan  Navy
Wars and conflicts
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nishan-e-Haider"

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