Pakistan Ex servicemen pay tribute to Major Shabbir Shahid

Mandi Bahauddin (Col (Retd) Azam Qadri) :Veterans of Mandi Bahauddin gathered at PESS Tehsil Office Phalia and paid tributes to Major Shabbir Shahid for fighting bravely in war with India.

On this occasion District President PESS Sher Gondal said Major Shabir led his troops from the front in 1965 and 1971 wars and showed exemplary leadership qualities and courage. In 1965 he was awarded Sitara-e- Jurat and in 1971 war awarded the highest decoration for bravery the Nishan-e-Haider.

He also read out on the occasion brief account of his life, his performance in the war, his achievements and leadership traits written by Col (Retd) Azam Qadri to pay tributes to Major Shabir on his Shahadat day that is 6 Dec. The account is as under:
Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed Shahadat Day
it was this day, the 6th of December that Major Shabir embraced Shahadat in 1971, while firing and engaging Indian tanks in the Sulaimanki Sector.
Major Shabir created legends and displayed unparalleled leadership qualities, the likes of which we could quote as examples and about which the Leadership theories could be written and read by generations to come. Man Shabir exemplifies highest level of motivation, selfless devotion, dedication and personal leadership. He showed how troops led from the front can achieve even the impossible results. The results that he achieved have no parallel in our history. His actions although fought tactically, brought about strategic effects. The kind of heroics Maj Shabbir displayed is emulated as fiction and names such as “gladiators” or “brave hearts” are coined. Here was a real life hero, who more aptly has been referred to as a “Born Warrior”
He revelled in life that was nothing but the best, exceptional and most exemplary. As a child he excelled as an all rounder, being top in academics as well as sports. He began his military career by winning the coveted Sword of Honour at the PMA. He did exceptionally well and was decorated for bravery, earning the Sitar-e-Jurat in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. Six years later, in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, he set even higher standards of valour and bravery and was awarded the Highest Decoration for Bravery, the Nishan-e-Haider, thus becoming highest decorated officer not only in Pakistan but maybe internationally.
The other uniqueness about his performance during both the Indo-Pak Wars of 1965 and 1971 is the fact that he was severely wounded; bullets were lodged in his body but he refused medical aid while he was engaged in fighting. On the second occasion he embraced Shahadat after his body was riddled with cuts, bruises and bullets. Before embracing Shahadat he killed an Indian Major (Narain Singh) in a one-on-one duel, a day earlier. He finally fell to an Indian tank shell, confirming frailty of the human body but his spirit had achieved immortality.
As the Holy Qur’an says:
“Call not those who have given their lives in the way of Allah as dead; they are living but ye perceive it not”
(Surah al-Baqarah: ayat 154).
Major Shabbir has left behind an “unparalleled legacy”, a very high bench mark of professionalism and heroism. He possessed sterling qualities of “head and heart” and lived a kind of life that our future generations can emulate from especially our young leaders of today and those young men, who are aspiring to take up soldiering as a profession.
Maj Shabbir was in the prime of his life, just 28 years old at the time he embraced Shahadat but what a life he lived in these 28 years?
What is more appreciable is the manner in which the Indians have hailed him and his acts of valour. What better recognition than being acknowledged for his heroics by the Indians and their higher command, including their Army Chief in 1971, Late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who incidentally was part of 6 FF, the Battalion of Major Shabbir Sharif in 1943.
The Pakistan Army stood by the nation right from the birth of Our Great Nation till date and withstood all challenges, be these be external or internal. Every soldier of the Pakistan just has one mission in mind and that is “protect our motherland at the peril of his life.”
It is this great Army that ensures that our nation gets to sleep comfortably at night while they keep a vigil round the clock. It is great soldiers like Shabir, who have shown what this nation means to the “Man in uniform”