Nishan e Haider Holders Names with Meaning in Urdu

Each country has its own civil or military awards. These awards symbolize the bravery and sacrifices of soldiers who won these awards. Nishan Haider is the highest military award in Pakistan. Nishan Haider literally means "symbol of the lion" where Haider is the epithet of Hazrat Ali and means Lion". It is given to those who show extreme bravery during the war. It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic; however, it was instituted retroactively from Independence in 1947.

Nishan E Haider Award can only be given to members of the Pakistan Armed Forces who are for the highest acts of extraordinary bravery against the enemy in air, land, or sea. Its uniqueness can be gauged from the fact that it has been awarded only 11 times since Pakistan's independence in 1947. Nishan E Haider holder’s names are listed down below.

Nishan E Haider Holders Names List

Saif Ali Janjua:

Saif Ali Janjua was belonged to the Azad Kashmir Regiment and was martyred in the 1947 Pak-India war. He was a platoon commander during the clashes in Kashmir. He was assigned to defend the Budha khana where he was hit by heavy machine gunfire. He bravely defended his position and succumbed to his artillery fire. He was awarded the Hilal Kashmir which was later equated to Nishan Haider.

Captain Raja Muhammad Sarwar:

Captain Raja embraces the martyrdom on July 27, 1948, and belonged to the Punjab Regiment. In the Kashmir war with India in 1948, Captain Sarwar attacked the Uri sector and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. He volunteered to destroy the enemy's sharp wires to advance his forces into the enemy's field. He was martyred in it and awarded the Nishan Haider.

Major Tufail Mohammad:

Major Tufail Mohammad was martyred on August 7, 1958, in Lakhimpur. He belonged to the 16th Punjab Regiment, Pakistan Rifles. In 1958, Pakistan and India were drawn to each other over the East Pakistan dispute. Major Tufail's company surrounded the Indian outpost, which had been set up illegally within Pakistan. He bravely attacked the post and was badly injured in the clash. Major Tufail succeeded in defeating the Indians and killed 3 of his soldiers and made the others prisoners of war. Sadly, he was martyred due to severe injuries and received the Nishan Haider.

Major Raja Aziz Bhatti:

Major Raja Aziz Bhatti was martyred on September 10, 1965, and belonged to the 17th Punjab Regiment. In the 1965 conflict between India and Pakistan, he was the commanding officer in the Burki area in the Lahore sector. His company suffered heavy artillery fire for five days in a row. He never gave up and during a directive and artillery attack on September 10, he collided with a tank shell and embraced martyrdom.

Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas:

Rashid Minhas was awarded the Nishan Haider for his bravery and became the youngest PAF officer to receive the High Bravery Award. He sacrifices his life for the sake of the country on August 20, 1971. A Bengali pilot deliberately entered his cockpit as he was directing his plane towards India. Rashid Minhas crashed the aircraft inside Pakistan’s Territory for the dignity of Pakistan.

Major Muhammad Akram:

Muhammad Akram was martyred on December 5, 1971. Fearless Major was the commanding officer in the 1971 Pak-India war. His company was obstructing the enemy. Therefore, the company was under fire from the opposition. However, the Major successfully thwarted the opposition for two weeks and finally accepted martyrdom in a close battle with the enemy.

Major Shabbir Sharif:

Major Shabbir Sharif was martyred on December 6, 1971. In 1971, Major's unit was assigned to occupy aground at the Sulemanki Headworks from Indian forces. Major Shabir killed 43 Indian soldiers and destroyed their tanks. The brave Major himself fired anti-tank guns at the enemy, however; the Indian army spotted and shot him.

Muhammad Hussain Janjua:

Hussain Janjua was the soldier of the 20 Lancers Regiment and he was martyred on December 10, 1971. During the battle, he saw the enemy digging in the village of Harar Khurd, he was shot with a machine gun while directing the army.

Muhammad Mahfuz:

Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfooz was martyred in the 1971 Pak-India conflict. The enemy attacked the check post in which the machine gun of Mahfuz was destroyed. Lance Nike advanced on the enemy's fort without a gun and was seriously wounded when he reached the post. When he reached a bunker, he started fighting the enemy with his hand, but another opposing soldier stabbed him and he got Nishan Haider for his sacrifice.

Captain Karnal Sher Khan:

Sher Khan was martyred on July 5, 1999, On the LOC, Captain Colonel Sher Khan defended 5 posts and set up his post and troops at 17,000 feet. Two Indian battalions were able to capture some areas with heavy fire. Shortly afterward, Captain Sher Khan tried to recapture the area where he had been hit by a machine gun.

Havaldar Lalak Jan:

Hawaldar Lalak Jan was martyred on July 7, 1999. Hawaldar wreaked havoc on the enemy with some great losses. On the day of his martyrdom, the brave soldier was severely wounded by heavy enemy attacks but still defended the land, he was located. He was awarded Nishan E Haider for his bravery.