Pakistan solemnly remembered Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed, Nishan-e-Haider on his 54th martyrdom anniversary, payed homage to his unmatched bravery, selfless sacrifice and enduring legacy that continued to inspire courage and patriotism across the nation.
He remains the sole person to have received both the Sitara-e-Jurat and the Nishan-e-Haider for his extraordinary bravery.
Major Shabbir Sharif was born on April 28, 1947, in the village of Kunjah, Gujrat. He was the elder brother of former Army Chief, General Raheel Sharif. Major Shabbir Sharif holds the unique distinction of being the only person to have been awarded both the Sitara-e-Jurat and Nishan-e-Haider for his exceptional courage and dedication.
During the Pak-India War of 1971, Major Sharif was tasked with capturing a strategically vital high ground near the Sulemanki Headworks, which was heavily defended by Indian infantry and supported by a squadron of tanks.
Demonstrating extraordinary valor, he successfully captured the position, killing 43 enemy soldiers and destroying four tanks, while also repelling counterattacks by two enemy battalions.
On December 6, 1971, Major Shabbir Sharif embraced martyrdom while fighting bravely for his beloved country and was laid to rest at Lahore’s Miani Sahib Graveyard. In recognition of his supreme bravery and selfless sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider, the highest military honor of Pakistan.
Earlier, he had also been awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat for his gallantry in the 1965 war and received the Sword of Honor from the Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday paid rich tribute to Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed, Nishan-e-Haider, lauding his unparalleled courage and historic sacrifices for the nation.
“Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed, recipient of Nishan-e-Haider, stands as a shining symbol of Pakistan’s defense,” Naqvi said in a statement issued on the occasion.
He added that the legendary officer “etched a new chapter of faith and bravery through his iron resolve.”
Naqvi emphasized that Major Shabbir Sharif’s unforgettable heroism during the 1971 war had immortalized him in the country’s history.
“Through extraordinary leadership, strategy, and unmatched courage, Major Shabbir Sharif shook the enemy’s strongest fortifications,” he said.
Recalling his battlefield achievements, Naqvi noted that at the Beas-Sutlej sector, the enemy’s bunkers were shattered by Major Shabbir Sharif’s gallant assault, turning his valor into a symbol of fear for opposing forces.
“His martyrdom raised him to an eternal rank,” Naqvi added, stressing that Major Shabbir Sharif remains the only soldier in Pakistan’s history to have received both the Nishan-e-Haider and Sitara-e-Jur’at.a
The interior minister described the martyred officer’s courage as a “guiding beacon for generations,” and issued a clear message to adversaries: “Every soldier of Pakistan inherits the spirit, determination, and loyalty of Major Shabbir Sharif”, he said.