Nishan-e-Haider

Nishan-e-Haider (NH; Urdu: نشان حیدر, lit. 'Mark of the Lion' or 'Emblem of the Lion'), is the highest military gallantry award of Pakistan.[3][4] The Nishan-e-Haider is awarded posthumously and only to members of the Pakistan Armed Forces. It recognises the highest acts of extraordinary bravery in the face of the enemy in air, land, or sea. It has been awarded only 11 times since Pakistan's independence in 1947.

Nishan-e-Haider
نشان حیدر
Obverse of the Nishan-e-Haider
TypeMedal
Awarded forActs 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]
CountryIslamic Republic of Pakistan
Presented byGovernment of Pakistan
EligibilityMilitary personnel only
Post-nominalsNH
StatusActive
Established16 March 1957[2] (applied retrospectively from 1948 onwards)
First awarded16 March 1957 – Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Captain Muhammad Sarwar, Pakistan army
Last awarded15 July 1999 – Kargil War, Havildar Lalak Jan, Pakistan army
Total11
Total awarded posthumously11
Websitepakistanarmy.gov.pk

Service Ribbon of Nishan-e-Haider
Precedence
Next (higher)None
Equivalent
       Hilal-e-Kashmir
Next (lower)
       Hilal-e-Jurat

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. Ali was the fourth Caliph of Islam and declared bravest person by Muhammad. He is known by his courage, bravery and power in Islam.[6]

History

The Nishan-e-Haider was established by the Government of Pakistan and named after Ali on 14 August 1947, 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 eleven Nishan-e-Haider recipients to date, ten 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. At one point in time the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan was asked why it was only awarded posthumously, his response reportedly that if it is awarded to a living person he may be involved in dishonourable conduct in the future which may disgrace the Award.

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[9]and consists of 88% copper, 10% gold, and 2% zinc.

Recipients
Recipients
No. Name of the recipient Regiment Rank Battle Date of martydom
1 Raja Muhammad Sarwar 2 Punjab Regiment, Pakistan Army Captain Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 27 July 1948
2 Saif Ali Janjua 5 Azad Kashmir regiment(HAIDER DIL)/18 Azad Kashmir Regiment, Pakistan Army Naik Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 26 October 1948
3 Tufail Mohammad 13 Punjab Regiment, Border Guards East Pakistan Rifles, Pakistan Army Major Indo-Pakistani border skirmishes 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 Janjua 15 Punjab Regiment, Pakistan Army Lance naik Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 17 December 1971
10 Karnal Sher Khan 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

Legacy

Monuments or places named after recipients of Nishan-E-Haider include:

See also

References
  1. "Honours and Awards". Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  2. "ODM of Pakistan: Order of the Lion".
  3. "First 'Nishan-e-Haider' recipient Sawar Shaheed remembered – Lahore". The News International. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  4. "How an Indian officer helped an enemy captain win Pakistan's highest gallantry award". ThePrint. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  5. "Nishan e Haider: Detailed account of 10 heroes of Pakistan". Times of Islamabad. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  6. "ʿAlī | Muslim caliph". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  7. "Honours and Awards". Pakistan Army. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  8. "Nishan e Haider holders of Pakistan Army ~ PAKISTAN DEFENCE BLOG". defenceblog.org. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  9. Arshad, Ambreen (5 September 2015). "They rest in honoured glory". Dawn. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  10. Muhammad Imran Saeed (2011) Captain Raja Muhammad S. Bhatti Shaheed, Nishan-e-Haider on Flickr
  11. DHA Lahore (2021) Inauguration of Major Shabbir Sharif monument & park
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