Nishan-e-Haider Holders List and Pictures with Names in Urdu

Nishan-e-Haider is the Highest Military Award of Pakistan. Nishan-e-Haider means “Emblem of Haider”, where Haider is the epithet of Hazrat Ali and means Lion. Nishan-e-Haider was established on 16 March 1957; however, it was applied from the date of Pakistan's independence on 14 August 1947.

Nishan-e-Haider is made of gunmetal, captured from the enemy in the previous wars, with a green ribbon and a star with five points is awarded to soldiers who show great bravery and courage in war or on active duty. All recipients of "Nishan-e-Haider' gave away the most valuable thing they had - their lives – in serving the nation and in defending the frontiers of Pakistan. 

Some Facts about Nishan-e-Haider

Nishan-e-Haider

1. It is named after the name of Hazrat Ali (R.A), fourth caliph of Islam.
2. Gunmetal used for its manufacturing is captured from the enemy in the previous wars.
3. It is only awarded to personnel of Armed Forces of Pakistan, without any discrimination of rank.
4. So far a total of 10 Nishan-e-Haider awards has been awarded, to 7 officers and 3 soldiers.
5. Nine Nishan-e-Haider recipients have been from Pakistan Army and one from Pakistan Air Force.
6. All the 10 recipients got this award for fighting against India.
7. One Nishan-e-Haider was awarded for the 1948 war, one for 1958, one for 1965, five for 1971 and two for 1999 Kargil War.
8. Nishan-e-Haider is only awarded posthumously (awarded only to those armed forces personnel who have lost their lives, fighting with the enemy or performing their duty).
9. Hilal-e-Kashmir (posthumous) is declared as equivalent to Nishan-e-Haider by Government of Pakistan.

Also, visit:

• Military Awards and Medals of  Pakistan
• All National Symbols and Things of Pakistan

Here is a brief account of these men, who would be remembered for their feats of courage, bravery and selflessness.

1. Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed

Punjab Regiment

Date of Shahadat: 27th July 1948

2. Major Tufail Mohammad Shaheed

Punjab Regiment

Date of Shahadat: 7th August 1958

3. Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed

Punjab Regiment

Date of Shahadat: 10th September 1965

4. Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed

Pakistan Air Force

Date of Shahadat: 20th August 1971

5. Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed

Frontier Force Regiment

Date of Shahadat: 6th December 1971

6. Sowar Muhammad Hussain Shaheed

Armoured Corps

Date of Shahadat: 10th December 1971

7. Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed

Frontier Force Regiment

Date of Shahadat: 15th December 1971

8. Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed

Punjab Regiment

Date of Shahadat: 17th December 1971

9. Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed

Sind Regiment

Date of Shahadat: 7th July 1999

10. Havildar Lalak Jan Shaheed

Northern Light Infantry

Date of Shahadat: 7th July 1999

Naik Saif Ali Janjua

Azad Kashmir Regiment 

Date of Shahadat: 26th October 1948

He was awarded Hilal-e-Kashmir - an equivalent to Nishan-i-Haider.

Hilal-e-Kashmir

On 14 March 1949, the Defence Council of Azad Jammu and Kashmir adorned Naik Saif Ali Janjua Shaheed with Hilal-e-Kashmir (posthumous) and on 30 November 1995, the Government of Pakistan initiated the Gazette notification to declare Hilal-e-Kashmir equivalent to Nishan-e-Haider.