Wreath laid at war hero Major Shabbir Shaheed's monument on his 49th martyrdom anniversary

To pay tribute to the supreme sacrifice of 1971 war hero, Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed Nishan-e-Haider, a wreath-laying ceremony was held in Lahore at his monument on Sunday, said a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Major General Raza Aizad laid a floral wreath on behalf of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

The ceremony was attended by relatives of Maj Shabbir Sharif.

 

Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for his valour and bravery during the 1971 war. He was also a recipient of the Sword of Honour from Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul and the Sitara-e-Jurat in 1965.

Earlier, the Director-General of ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar, in a tweet, said that Major Shabbir Sharif symbolised valour and patriotism.

"His heroic actions in 65 & 71 wars remind us, it's not numbers but faith, devotion and courage in adversity which make nations triumph." he wrote.

He was born on 28 April 1943 in Kunjah, Gujrat district.

He was commissioned in Frontier Force Regiment on April 19, 1964. Major Shabbir in December 1971, being a company commander of 6th Frontier Force Regiment was ordered to capture high ground near Sulemanki Headworks defended by more than a company of the Assam Regiment supported by a squadron of tanks.

He captured that area, killing 43 Indian soldiers and destroying four tanks.

Major Shabbir and his men repulsed counter attack by two enemy battalions. On December 6, 1971, he was directly hit by a tank shell and embraced martyrdom.