Nation pays tribute to national hero " Shabbir Shareef"
Major Shabbir Sharif is the only person ever who received both the Nishan-e-Haider and Sitara-e-Jurat for his bravery. He was a military officer in the Pakistan Army who was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
Sharif was born on 28 April 1943 in a Rajput family. When he was in college he receive a joining call from Pakistan Military Academy (PMA). After completing his training he was awarded the Sword of Honor.
In the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Pakistan Army launched an offensive on the Western front against the enemy. Sharif, as commander of a company of 6 Frontier Force Regiment, was ordered to capture high ground overlooking Grumukhi Khera and Beri, a village in the Sulemanki Sector.
On 3 December 1971, in a well-organised action, he fought alongside his men and held Indian attacks at bay. He cleared the Jhangar post by passing through the minefield laid by enemy and swimming across a water obstacle, the 'Sabuna distributary', whilst under intense enemy fire and led his company to capture the objective. During the day, his troops repelled over 15 Indian attempts to recapture the high ground. He and his men destroyed four enemy tanks and held two Indian battalions at bay by killing 43 soldiers.S
On the afternoon of 6 December, the enemy launched another counter attack preceded by air strikes and heavy artillery shelling. After casualties among the crew, he took over as a gunner on an anti-tank gun and started firing on the enemy tanks. While this fight was on, one of the enemy tanks fired at him thus killing him. His last words were quoted as: “Don’t lose the bridge.” It was the same bridge he died defending from the enemy's attack.
He is the elder brother of Pakistan's Ex-Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif.
The sacrifice and martyrdom of Major will always be remember and respected in the hearts of Pakistanis
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