Nishan-e-Haider - Emblem of Haider - نشان حیدر

Nishan-e-Haider or Nishan-e-Hyder (Urdu: نشان حیدر, translated as "Emblem of Haider, where Haider is the epithet of Hazrat Ali and means Lion", abbreviated as NH) is the highest military decoration given by Pakistan. It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic, however, it was instituted retrospectively from Independence in 1947. It is awarded to military personnel, regardless of rank, for extraordinary bravery in combat. The award is considered to be the highest military award and is only awarded to those who have sacrificed their life. Its exclusivity may be gauged by the fact that since it was established only 10 awards have been made, along with one equivalent award. To date all awards have been made posthumously. However, death of the individual during the act of extreme courage is not mandatory for qualification for Nishan-e-Haider. Of the 10 recipients, 9 have been from the Pakistan Army, one has been from the Pakistan Air Force. As yet there have been no recipients from the Pakistan Navy.

Recipients:
1. Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed (1910--July 27, 1948), 6/8 Punjab
2. Major Muhammad Tufail Shaheed (1914--August 7, 1958), 1 Battalion East Pakistan Rifles
3. Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed (1928--September 10, 1965), 17 Punjab
4. Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed (1938--1971), 4 FF
5. Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed (1951--August 20, 1971), PAF Training Squadron
6. Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed (1943--December 6, 1971), 6 FF
7. Sawar Muhammad Hussain Shaheed(1949--December 10, 1971), 20 Lancers
8. Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed (1944--December 17, 1971), 15 Punjab
9. Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed (1970--July 5, 1999), 12 NLI
10. Havaildar Lalak Jan Shaheed (1967--July 7, 1999), 12 NLI.

Nishan-e-Haider (Urdu: ن‍شان حیدر‎) (abbreviated as "NH") is Pakistan's highest military gallantry award. "Nishan-e-Haider" literally means "Mark of the Lion" in the Urdu language. The word "Haider" is also the epithet of Hazrat Ali.

The Nishan-e-Haider can only be awarded to members of the Pakistan Armed Forces for the highest acts of extraordinary bravery in face of the enemy in air, land or sea. Although some consider it equivalent to the British Victoria Cross and the United States Medal of Honor, it is unique in that it has so far been awarded only posthumously. Its exclusivity can be gauged by the fact that, since Pakistan's independence in 1947, it was awarded only ten times (now count is eleven, as Hilal-e-Kashmir is awarded equal to Nishan-e-Haider).

Nishan-e-Haider ن‍شان حیدر
Awarded by the President of Pakistan in the name of the Government of Pakistan
Type	Pakistan military medal with service ribbon (Decoration)
Eligibility	Military personnel only
Awarded for	Acts of greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger, and bravery of the highest order, or devotion to the country in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea or in the air.
Status	Currently awarded
Post-nominals	NH
Statistics
Established	16 March 1957  (applied retrospectively from 1948 onwards)
First awarded	16 March 1957 – Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Captain Muhammad Sarwar, Pakistan army
Last awarded	15 July 1999 – Kargil War, Havildar Lalak Jan, Pakistan army
Total awarded	10
Posthumous awards	10
Precedence
Next (higher)	None
Equivalent	Hilal-e-Kashmir
Next (lower)	Hilal-i-Jur'at Sitara-i-Jur'at Tamgha-i-Jur'at

History

The Nishan-e-Haider was established by the Government of Pakistan and named after Ali ibn Abi Talib on 16 March 1957, the year that Pakistan became a republic. It was applied retroactively from the date of Pakistan's independence on 14 August 1947. It is Pakistan's highest award and takes precedence over all military and civil awards. Of the ten Nishan-e-Haider recipients to date, nine have been from the Army and one from the Air Force.

Criterion

The Nishan-e-Haider can be awarded to all ranks of the Armed Forces for showing feats of extraordinary courage in confronting the enemy. As a matter of practice and precedent, it has only been awarded where it has been established that the recipient acted despite high risks and was killed in the act.

Manufacturing

The Nishan-e-Haider is manufactured by Pakistan Mint on order of the Ministry of Defence. It is forged from captured enemy equipment and consists of 88% copper, 10% tin and 2% zinc.

Recipients

Recipients

№	Name of the recipient	Regiment	Rank	Battle	Date of martyrdom
1	Raja Muhammad Sarwar	2/1 Punjab Regiment, Pakistan Army	Captain	Indo-Pakistani War of 1947	27 July 1948
2	Tufail Mohammad	16th Punjab Regiment East Pakistan Rifles, Pakistan Army	Major	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965	7 August 1958
3	Raja Aziz Bhatti	17 Punjab Regiment, Pakistan Army	Major	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965	10 September 1965
4	Rashid Minhas	No. 2 Fighter Conversion Unit, Pakistan Air Force	Pilot Officer	Indo-Pakistani War of 1971	20 August 1971
5	Shabbir Sharif	6 Frontier Force Regiment, Pakistan Army	Major	Indo-Pakistani War of 1971	6 December 1971
6	Muhammad Hussain Janjua	20 Lancers (Armoured Corps), Pakistan Army	Sawar	Indo-Pakistani War of 1971	10 December 1971
7	Muhammad Akram	4 Frontier Force Regiment, Pakistan Army	Major	Indo-Pakistani War of 1971	5 December 1971
8	Muhammad Mahfuz	15 Punjab Regiment, Pakistan Army	Lance naik	Indo-Pakistani War of 1971	17 December 1971
9	Karnal Sher Khan	Sindh Regiment/12 Northern Light Infantry, Pakistan Army	Captain	Kargil War	7 July 1999
10	Lalak Jan	12 Northern Light Infantry, Pakistan Army	Havildar	Kargil War	7 July 1999