Shabbir Sharif

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Major Shabbir Sharif NH  SJ
Shabbir Sharif
Native name	شبیر شریف
Born	28 April 1943 Kunjah, Gujrat District, Punjab Province
Died	6 December 1971(1971-12-06) (aged 28) Okara District, Punjab, Pakistan
Allegiance	Pakistan
Service / branch	Pakistan Army
Years of service	1961–1971
Rank	Major
Service number	PA-6911
Unit	6 Frontier Force Regiment
Battles / wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 †
Awards	Nishan-e-Haider Sitara-e-Jurat Sword of Honour
Relations	General Raheel Shareef (brother) Raja Aziz Bhatti (distant relative)

Major Muhammad Shabbir Sharif NH SJ (Urdu: محمد شبیر شریف ; c. 28 April 1943 – 6 December 1971), was a Pakistani military officer and the seventh recipient of Pakistan's highest military award, Nishan-e-Haider, which he was posthumously awarded for his actions of valor during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.^[1][2] He is the only recipient to have ever received both the Nishan-e-Haider and Sitara-e-Jurat for his bravery,^[3][4] and is regarded as the most decorated officer in the Pakistan Army.^[5] His younger brother, General Raheel Sharif, was the ninth Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army.^[4]

Sharif was born on 28 April 1943 in a Punjabi Muslim Bhatti Rajput Family^[1][2][6] at Kunjah, Gujrat District to Major Muhammad Sharif.^[7] He attended St. Anthony's High School, Lahore. While at Government College Lahore, he received a call to join Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul.

He used to play squash and won an Army level swimming medal while he was in 4th Frontier Force Regiment.

He was commissioned in Pakistan Army on 19 April 1961. After successfully completing his training and being awarded the Sword of Honor, he was posted to the 6th Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment.^[5]

In the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Pakistan Army launched an offensive on the Western front against the enemy. Sharif, as commander of a company of 6 Frontier Force Regiment, was ordered to capture high ground overlooking Grumukhi Khera and Beri, a village in the Sulemanki Sector.

On 3 December 1971, in a well-organized action, he fought alongside his men and held Indian attacks at bay. He cleared the Jhangar post by passing through the minefield laid by the enemy and swimming across a water obstacle, the 'Sabuna distributary', whilst under intense enemy fire and led his company to capture the objective.

On the afternoon of 6 December, the enemy launched an offensive preceded by air strikes and heavy artillery shelling. After casualties among the crew, he took over as a gunner on an anti-tank gun and started firing on the enemy tanks. While this fight was on, one of the enemy tanks fired at him thus killing him. His last words were quoted as: “Don’t lose the bridge.” It was the same bridge he died defending from the Indian Army's attack.^[5][8]

His younger brother, General Raheel Sharif was the Chief of Army Staff (November 2013 - November 2016), the highest rank in the Pakistan Army.^[4] He is also the relative of another Nishan-e-Haider holder, Raja Aziz Bhatti.^[6]

An Indian Malayalam film, 1971: Beyond Borders,^[9] was inspired by the story of Major Shabbir Sharif.

Other awards he won are:

• Sword of Honor^[5]

• Article on Major Shabbir Sharif by Nasir M. Khan at the Wayback Machine (archived 27 October 2009)
• Major Shabbir Sharif