Nishan-e-Haider
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Nishan-e-Haider نشان حیدر | |
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Type | Medal |
Awarded for | Acts of greatest heroism in circumstances of extreme danger,in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea or in the air.In addition the person must have also died in the line of duty.[1] |
Country | ![]() |
Presented by | ![]() |
Eligibility | Military personnel only |
Post-nominals | NH |
Ribbon | ![]() |
Status | Active |
Established | 16 March 1957 [2] (applied retrospectively from 1948 onwards) |
First awarded | 16 March 1957 – Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Captain Muhammad Sarwar, Pakistan army |
Last awarded | 15 July 1999 – Kargil War, Havildar Lalak Jan, Pakistan army |
Total | 11 (1 Hilal-e-Kashmir) |
Total awarded posthumously | 11 |
Website | http://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/awpreview/pDetails.aspx?pType=PressRelease&pID=67 ![]() |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | None |
Equivalent | Hilal-e-Kashmir |
Next (lower) | Hilal-i-Jur'at Sitara-i-Jur'at Tamgha-i-Jur'at |
Nishan-e-Haider (NH; Urdu: نشان حیدر, lit. 'Mark of the Lion'), is the highest military gallantry award of Pakistan.[3][4] Nishan-e-Haider literally means "Emblem of the Lion" in the Urdu language.[5] The word "Haider" is also the epithet of Ali, who is referred to as the 'Lion of ALLAH', a valiant warrior and leader. Hazrat Ali (R.A) is fourth Caliph of Islam and declared most brave person by the Last Holy Prophet. He is known by his courage, bravery and power in Islam.[6]
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 11 times (now eleven, due to Hilal-e-Kashmir declared as Nishan-e-Haider).
History[]
The Nishan-e-Haider was by
eestablished by th Government of Pakistan and named after Ali on 14 August 1947,[citation needed] 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.
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 martyred(shaheed) in the act.[7][8]
Manufacturing[]
The Nishan-e-Haider is manufactured by Pakistan Mint on the order of the Ministry of Defence. It is forged from captured enemy equipment and consists of 88% copper, 10% Gold, and 2% zinc.
Recipients[]
№ | Name of the recipient | Regiment | Rank | Battle | Date of martyrdom |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Raja Muhammad Sarwar | 2/1 Punjab Regiment, Pakistan Army | Captain | Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 | 27 July 1948 |
2 | Saif Ali Janjua Hilal-e-Kashmir | 18 Azad Kashmir Regiment, Pakistan Army | Naik | Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 | 26 October 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 | Havildar | Kargil War | 7 July 1999 |
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Honours and Awards". Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- ^ "ODM of Pakistan: Order of the Lion".
- ^ "First 'Nishan-e-Haider' recipient Sawar Shaheed remembered - Lahore". The News International. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ "How an Indian officer helped an enemy captain win Pakistan's highest gallantry award". ThePrint. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ "Nishan e Haider: Detailed account of 10 heroes of Pakistan". Times of Islamabad. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ "ʿAlī | Muslim caliph". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
- ^ "Honours and Awards". Pakistan Army. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
- ^ "Nishan e Haider holders of Pakistan Army ~ PAKISTAN DEFENCE BLOG". www.defenceblog.org. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
External links[]
- Military awards and decorations of Pakistan
- Recipients of Nishan-e-Haider
- Awards established in 1957
- 1957 establishments in Pakistan
- Courage awards