Nishan-e-Haider (NH), literally Mark of the Lion, is the country’s supreme Military gallantry award. Haider is an epithet of Hazrat Ali (RA), who was known as the ‘Lion of God’.
Who can get it?
The NH is only awarded to members of the Military for “acts of greatest heroism in circumstances of extreme danger, in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea or in the air”.
NH has only been awarded posthumously to 10 people since Pakistan’s independence. No woman has been honoured with the gallantry award so far.
Who makes it?
The Pakistan Mint manufactures the gallantry medal on the request of the Ministry of Defence. The medal is made from enemy equipment. It is made of 88 per cent copper, 10pc tin and 2pc zinc.
Who has received it?
Since 1947, 10 Military personnel have received it; 1 from the Air Force and nine from the Army.
1- Captain Raja Muhammad Sarwar
Date of martyrdom: 27 July 1948
Battle: Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Regiment: 2/1 Punjab Regiment
2- Major Tufail Mohammad
Date of martyrdom: 7 August 1958
Battle: Indo-Pak Border skirmish 1958
Regiment: 16th Punjab Regiment Border Guards East Pakistan Rifles
3- Major Raja Aziz Bhatti
Date of martyrdom: 10 September 1965
Battle: Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Regiment: 17 Punjab Regiment
4- Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas
Date of martyrdom: 20 August 1971
Battle: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Regiment: No. 2 Fighter Conversion Unit
5- Major Muhammad Akram
Date of martyrdom: 5 December 1971
Battle: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Regiment: 4 Frontier Force Regiment
6- Major Shabbir Sharif
Date of martyrdom: 6 December 1971
Battle: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Regiment: 6 Frontier Force Regiment
7- Sowar Muhammad Hussain Janjua
Date of martyrdom: 10 December 1971
Battle: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Regiment: 20 Lancers (Armoured Corps)
8- Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz
Date of martyrdom: 17 December 1971
Battle: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Regiment: 15 Punjab Regiment
9- Captain Karnal Sher Khan
Date of martyrdom: 5 July 1999
Battle: Kargil War
Regiment: 27 Sindh Regiment/12 Northern Light Infantry
10- Havaldar Lalak Jan
Date of martyrdom: 7 July 1999
Battle: Kargil War
Regiment: 12 Northern Light Infantry
Notable mention: Naik Saif Ali Junjua (Hilal-e-Kashmir)
Date of martyrdom: 26th April 1948
Battle: Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Regiment: 5 Azad Kashmir Regiment
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