Shabbir Sharif
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Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed (born April 28, 1943 in Kunjah, Gujrat District) completed his O Levels from St. Anthony's High School, Lahore and while he was at Government College Lahore that he received a call to join Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul. He was thus commissioned in Pakistan Army on April 19, 1964 and after successfully completing his training (including a receipt of Sword of Honor) he was posted to the 6th Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment, This historic battalion was the old 54th Sikhs, the parent unit of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw MC, Gen K. S. Thimayya, Lt Gen Attiqur Rahman MC, Lt Gen Khalid M Sheikh, Maj Gen Mian Hayauddin HJ, MBE, MC and many other heroic figures of the Indian and Pakistan armies.
[edit] Incident Leading to Martyrdom(Shahadat)
It was on December 3, 1971, that he was commanding a company of 6 FF Regiment near Sulemanki Headworks when he was assigned the task of capturing the high bund (ground) overlooking the Gurmukh Khera and Beriwala villages in the Sulemanki sector. These points were defended by more than a company of Indian Army's Assam Regiment which was supported by a squadron of tanks.
To attain his objective, Major Sharif had to go through an enemy minefield and swim across a 30-feet wide and 10 feet deep defensive canal, which he accomplished under heavy artillery and automatic fire. Leading his company, he launched a frontal attack and succeeded in driving the enemy out of its fortified trenches by dusk on December 3. A total of 43 enemy soldiers were killed in this well-nigh superhuman action, and another 28 were taken prisoners. Moreover, four enemy tanks were also destroyed.
For the next three days and nights, the enemy launched repeated counter-attacks. These were repulsed by Major Sharif who held his vantage position on the high bund (ground), holding two enemy battalions at bay. During one of the enemy attacks, Major Sharif jumped out of his trench on the night between December 5 and 6, killed the enemy Company Commander of 4 Jat Regiment and recovered important documents from him. During another attack in the afternoon of December 6, Major Sharif took over an anti tank gun from his gunner, and while engaging enemy armor, he was killed in action by a direct hit from an enemy tank. At the time of his Shahadat he was 28 years old and his only son was a year old.
For the supreme sacrifice that he made for the honor of his country Major Shabbir Sharif was awarded Nishan-i-Haider the highest Military award of Pakistan. As a matter of fact he is the only officer of Pakistan Army who has been awarded both Sitara-e-Jurat (SJ) and Nishan-e-Haider (NH) for his gallantry.
The person who expressed the greatest pride at Maj Sharif's heroism was Field Marshal Maneckshaw, whose eyes would moisten and whose chest with swell with pride as he would often relate the story of the brave Major from his old battalion who had won the highest award that Pakistan could offer to a soldier!
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