Nishan-e-Haider is the highest military award awarded to military personnel with extraordinary achievements in military combat. Although it was implemented retroactively from Pakistan’s independence in 1947, it was formed in 1957, when the country became a republic. Nishan-e-Haider holders have the utmost importance in the history of Pakistan.
Only those who have given their lives in service to the nation have received this honour. Nevertheless, the death of a person during the conduct of extraordinary heroism is not essential for qualifying for Nishan-e-Haider. Of the 11 honorees so far, 10 were members of the Pakistan Armed Forces, while one belonged to the Pakistan Air Force.
Graana blog has compiled a complete list of all the Nishan-e-Haider holders in Pakistan below.
Overview of Nishan-e-Haider
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Nishan-e-Haider |
| Translation | “Mark of the Lion” |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Established | 16 March 1957 |
| Significance | Highest military award for bravery in Pakistan |
| Eligibility | Members of the Pakistan Armed Forces |
| Criteria | Acts of extraordinary bravery in the face of the enemy, risking or sacrificing life |
| Number Awarded | 11 recipients to date |
| Posthumous Awards | All awards have been made posthumously |
| First Recipient | Raja Muhammad Sarwar (1948, retroactively awarded) |
| Most Recent Recipient | Havaldar Lalak Jan (1999, Kargil War) |
| Medal Design | Green ribbon with a bronze five-pointed star and a crescent, featuring a central medallion with the word “Haider” in Urdu |
| Named After | Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth Caliph of Islam, known as Haider (Lion) |
| Presentation | Presented by the President of Pakistan |
| Related Awards | Other military awards include Hilal-e-Jurat, Sitara-e-Jurat, and Tamgha-e-Jurat |
| Significance of Name | The name “Haider” is associated with courage and valor, reflecting the heroic acts honored by this award |
Nishan e Haider Holders Names
| Recipient | Rank | Regiment | Conflict | Year of Award | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raja Muhammad Sarwar Khan Bhatti | Captain | Punjab Regiment | Kashmir Operations | 1948 | Led an attack against heavily guarded enemy positions; killed while cutting through a wire fence. |
| Saif Ali Janjua | Naik | Azad Kashmir Regiment | 1947 Indo-Pak War | N/A | Defended Budha Khana against machine guns; awarded Hilal-e-Kashmir, later deemed similar to Nishan-e-Haider. |
| Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed | Major | Pakistan Army | 1965 Indo-Pakistani War | 1965 | Volunteered to treat wounded soldiers; continued despite being seriously injured until he died. |
| Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed | Major | Punjab Regiment | 1965 Indo-Pakistani War | 1965 | Led his company against a larger Indian force; refused evacuation despite injuries. |
| Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed | Major | Azad Kashmir Regiment | 1971 Indo-Pakistani War | 1971 | Served as company commander in Chhamb sector; awarded for bravery. |
| Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed | Captain | Northern Light Infantry | 1999 Kargil War | 1999 | Company commander in Kargil sector; awarded for bravery. |
| Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaheed | Havaldar | Northern Light Infantry | 1999 Kargil War | 1999 | Machine gunner in Kargil sector; awarded for bravery. |
| Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed | Major | Frontier Force Regiment | 1971 Indo-Pakistani War | 1971 | Company commander in Chhamb sector; awarded for bravery. |
| Sepoy Muhammad Hussain Shaheed | Sepoy | Azad Kashmir Regiment | 1971 Indo-Pakistani War | 1971 | Machine gunner in Chhamb sector; awarded for bravery. |
| Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed | Lance Naik | Northern Light Infantry | 1999 Kargil War | 1999 | Machine gunner in Kargil sector; awarded for braver |
Raja Muhammad Sarwar Khan Bhatti
Raja Muhammad Sarwar Khan Bhati was born in the Gujar Khan Tehsil of Rawalpindi District. As the Company Commander of 2nd Squadron of the Punjab Regiment, Captain Sarwar carried out a strike against a heavily guarded enemy position in the Uri Sector during the Kashmir Operations shortly after the creation of Pakistan.
The attack resulted in significant casualties while coming under heavy machine gun, grenade, and mortar fires. On July 27, 1948, when he advanced with 6 of his troops to cut through a wire fence, he was killed when heavy fire from machine guns pierced his chest.
Naik Saif Ali Janjua
Saif Ali Janjua was a platoon leader of the Azad Kashmir Regiment during the 1947 Indo-Pak War. He was sent to defend Budha Khana, where he encountered massive machine guns.
Naik Saif Ali fiercely guarded his position and was struck by mortar shells, getting fatally injured. He was awarded Hilal-e Kashmir, later deemed to be similar to Nishan-e-Haider.
Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed
Major Tufail Muhammad was the first ‘official’ recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider. He was awarded the award posthumously for his bravery and sacrifice during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
He was a member of the Pakistan Army’s medical corps and was serving in the Sialkot sector when the war broke out. Despite being unarmed and not trained in combat, he volunteered to treat the wounded soldiers on the front lines.
On 7 September, 1965, Major Tufail Muhammad was attending to the wounded soldiers when an artillery shell exploded near him. He was seriously injured in the explosion but he continued to treat the wounded until he collapsed and died.
Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed
Major Raja Aziz Bhatti was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for his bravery during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He was a member of the Pakistan Army’s Punjab Regiment and was serving as a company commander in the Burki sector.
On the night of 6 September, 1965, Major Bhatti’s company was attacked by a much larger Indian Army force. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Major Bhatti and his men fought bravely and held their ground.
He was seriously injured in the attack but he refused to be evacuated and continued to lead his men until he succumbed to his wounds. Due to this incomparable act of bravery, Major Aziz Bhatti was awarded Nishan-e-Haider.
Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed
Major Muhammad Akram was also awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for his bravery during the 1971 war. He was a member of the Pakistan Army’s Azad Kashmir Regiment and was serving as a company commander in the Chhamb sector.
Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed
Captain Karnal Sher Khan was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for his bravery during the Kargil War of 1999. He was a member of the Pakistan Army’s Northern Light Infantry and was serving as a company commander in the Kargil sector.
Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaheed
Havaldar Lalak Jan was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for his bravery during the Kargil War of 1999. He was a member of the Pakistan Army’s Northern Light Infantry and was serving as a machine gunner in the Kargil sector.
Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed
Major Shabbir Sharif was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for his bravery during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Hewas a member of the Pakistan Army’s Frontier Force Regiment and was serving as a company commander in the Chhamb sector.
Sepoy Muhammad Hussain Shaheed
Sepoy Muhammad Hussain was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for his bravery during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He was a member of the Pakistan Army’s Azad Kashmir Regiment and was serving as a machine gunner in the Chhamb sector.
Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed
Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for his bravery during the Kargil War of 1999. He was a member of the Pakistan Army’s Northern Light Infantry and was serving as a machine gunner in the Kargil sector.
The Nishan-e-Haider is the highest military award given by the Government of Pakistan to soldiers who have performed acts of gallantry and bravery in the face of the enemy.
The soldiers who have been awarded the Nishan-e-Haider are considered national heroes, and their names will always be remembered in the annals of Pakistan’s history.
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