Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed
Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed is recipient of the Nishan-E-Haider - (Sign/Order of the Lion), the highest Gallantry award given by Pakistan. It is awarded to select soldiers who display an incredible amount of valor and courage on the battle field in the face of staunch adversity. Only ten of these prestigious awards have ever been served, one of them being Jatt, despite Pakistan been involved in three wars (Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and a major conflict in Kargil. It is the most difficult Award to be achieved.
Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed was born in Pind Malikan (now Mahfuzabad) in Rawalpindi District on October 25 1944. Muhammad Mahfuz joined Pakistan Army on October 25, 1962 as an infantry soldier.
Incident leading to Death (Shahadat)
At the time of India-Pakistan War of 1971, Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz was serving in Company “A” of 15 Punjab Regiment deployed on the Wagah-Attari Sector. On the night of December 17-18, his company was assigned the task of occupying Phul Kanjri village located in the same sector. Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz was assigned to Platoon No. 3, which was designated as the forward unit in the assault. Thus this Platoon had to face torrential volleys of enemy fire from concrete Pill boxes. When the entire Company “A” was about 70 yards from the Indian position, it was pinned down by an unceasing frontal and cross fire from automatic weapons. On top of that the enemy artillery also opened up its fire with the break of dawn. Mahfuz, whose machine-gun was destroyed by an enemy shell, ran blindly, yet courageously towards the Indian line. Through luck, he got through the Indian ranks and was able to take out the machine gun and help out his platoon. At the same time the Indian soldier was able to fire shots into Mahfuz but Mahfuz who was still alive, with his last effort managed to kill the Indian soldier. However another Indian soldier coming to the aid of his fellow soldier killed Mahfuz who was soon taken by the assaulting platoon of Pak Army.
For his supreme courage, Lance Naik Muhammad Mafuz Shaheed was awarded Nishan-i-Haider, the highest Military award of Pakistan.
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