Nazir Sabir – Mountaineer from Pakistan

Nazir Sabir has taken Pakistan to the heights of glory many times by scaling some of the highest mountain peaks of the world.

Born in the mountainous valley of Hunza, Nazir Sabir was destined to conquer the lofty majestic mountains. His climbing career began in 1974 when he accompanied a Japanese expedition to climb the 7284m Passu Peak. He was a part of many successful expeditions which tamed the arrogant 8000m high peaks in Pakistan. He ascended K2 the 2nd highest peak of the world from an extremely perilous and virtually impossible angle the South West Ridge. He was the first Pakistani to attempt such a difficult climb and the second Pakistani to conquer K2. He also was the first person to reach the top of Paiya Peak (6660m). In 1982 he added another chapter to history when he conquered the two 8000m peaks in a week in a single attempt. These were the Broad Peak and the Gasherbrum. Nazir Sabir was accompanied by an Italian mountaineer Reinhold and a fellow Pakistani Sher Khan. Although Nazir attempted to tame Nanga Parbat three times but the killer mountain proved to be invincible as all three expeditions had to be abandoned due to bad weather.

In May 2000, Nazir Sabir along with mountaineers from USA and Canada conquered Everest. Once atop the roof of the world, Nazir paid glowing tributes to all his colleagues and friends who lost their lives trying to reach these glorious heights.

Nazir Sabir has been honored by the Pakistani government and many prestigious mountaineering clubs around the world.

Sabir has worked a lot for promoting tourism and presenting a positive image of Pakistan.

 

Top ten famous writers of Pakistan

Writing is a very diverse field, and writers all over the world have expressed their selves via different means, and languages. Writers here in Pakistan have also dominated this field, with their very breath taking stories and informative books. Ashfaq Ahmed’s famous book Zawiya which was published in parts was an amazing one. Umera Ahmed has been providing us with her marvelous work. The writers here in Pakistan have not only written in Urdu but English as well.  Tehmina durrani with her excellent piece of work has given us very good books like Blasphemy, my feudal lord, a mirror to the blind which is an autobiography of Sir Abdul Sattar Edhi. Another very famous writer, without which Pakistan’s writing industry is incomplete, is Bano Qudsia who has written very good novels and are read by millions all over Pakistan. Other famous writers are Ahmed Faraz, Anwar Maqsood, Umera Ahmed, and many more.

Following is the list of famour writers of Pakistan

• Ashfaq Ahmed
• Bano Qudsia
• Ahmed faraz
• Qudrutullah Shahab
• Ibn-e-Insha
• Anwar Maqsood
• Quratulain Haider
• Ahmad Shah Bokhari
• Mushtaq Yusfi
• Naseem Hijazi

Pride of Pakistan: Nishan-e-Haider

Nishan-e-Haider is the highest military award of Pakistan awarded to those military men who have shown exceptional acts of bravery during a battle or when the integrity of the country was in jeopardy. It is conferred posthumously and so far only 10 brave men have received it. Out of these ten; nine are from Pakistan Army and one is from the Air Force. Nishan-e-Haider is made from the gun metal surrendered by the enemy.

The first recipient of this highest military order was Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed who laid down his life defending the country in the Kashmir war of 1948.

Major Muhammad Tufail Shaheed was also awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for his heroism though not in a battlefield. He attacked an illegally setup post at night along with his men; though fatally wounded; he continued to command his men and succeeded in driving out the enemy.

Aziz Bhatti was another brave major of the Pakistan Army who embraced martyrdom during the 1965 war while resisting every move of the enemy. He was awarded Nishan-e-Haider for his exceptional valor.

Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed received Nishan-e-Haider for his courage and bravery during the 1971 war with India. He bravely commanded his men till his death.

Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas is the only recipient of Nishan-e-Haider who belongs to the Air Force. During a test flight, his plane was hijacked by his Bengali instructor. Rashid Minhas on realizing his intentions informed the control tower and interfered with the control of the planes causing it to crash.

Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed was one of the bravest majors of the Pakistan Army. His acts of valor and military acumen earned him the highest military award even the enemy acknowledged his bravery calling him “a fine soldier”.

Sawar Muhammad Hussain Shaheed was a jawan (foot soldier) in the Pakistan Army who was awarded Nishan-e-Haider for his extraordinary acts of bravery during the 1971 war. He destroyed sixteen enemy tanks before coming under direct fire of enemy’s machine guns.

Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed was another recipient who was awarded Nishan-e-Haider for his heroics in the battle of 1971 between India and Pakistan. He entered the enemy bunker and destroyed it.

Nishan-e-Haider was conferred on Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed for his courageous deeds during the 1999 Kargil War. Even the Indian Army acknowledged his bravery and it is said that this award was given on the recommendation of the Indian Army.

Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaheed embraced martyrdom in the line of duty during the 1999 Kargil War. He requested the authorities to deploy him on the front position from where he bravely thwarted the enemy advances. He was the last recipient of this prestigious award.

Pride of Pakistan: The Nuclear Accomplishment of Pakistan

Shaken by the separation of East Pakistan and letdown by its allies America and China; Pakistan then decided to stand on its own and build a nuclear bomb.

What started in 1972 under the Bhutto regime was finally accomplished on 28th May 1998 during the tenure of Nawaz Sharif. Pakistan announced its nuclear achievement by detonating five nuclear heads in Chaghi Hills Balochistan. It was a proud moment for a nation which unfortunately has a long history of unstable governments and is plagued by problems both internally and externally. This day will go down in the history of the country as the “rebirth of the nation”.

Pakistan’s feat was welcomed by the Moslem world. On the other hand our neighbor and the Western powers were furious and regarded this development as a threat to the region. These double standard nations had acquired nukes themselves ages ago as Pakistan is the seventh nation which has gone nuke. The fact that India is allowed to import nuclear fuel and technology while Pakistan is not, exposes not only the double standards of the West but also its open hostility. Like Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, Pakistan could have become a target of the Western powers if it did not have nuclear weapons. The West and our neighbor in particular lament the fact that Pakistan no longer feels insecure and cannot be easily bullied.

Pakistan has time and again assured the world that it will not use its nuclear weapons unless provoked. Pakistan’s nuclear accomplishment has brought stability in the region.

Pride of Pakistan: Top Lawyers of Pakistan

Nobody can deny the contributions of lawyers in Pakistan. The founder of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Jinnah was a lawyer as was Allama Iqbal who gave the concept of Pakistan. Lawyers made many sacrifices to uphold the judiciary in the country. Some prominent lawyers of Pakistan are:

Aitzaz Ahsan is a Pakistani lawyer and a politician who also served as an MNA, MPA, Senator and a Federal Minister. He is a PPP loyalist and has been the front runner in supporting democracy during the martial law regimes. He was sent to prison several times but that did not discourage him. Aitzaz Ahsan was voted as one of the top ten public intellects in the world.

Fakhruddin.G. Ibrahim is a noted Pakistani lawyer who has held several important positions in Pakistani government. Retired as a Justice, Ibrahim set up the CPLC (Citizen Police Liaison Committee) in Karachi to help people who complained of the apathy and non-cooperative attitude of the police. With the help of the police department CPLC has solved many cases successfully.

Ghulam Farooq Awan is a famous Pakistani lawyer and is currently serving as an adviser to the Prime Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.

Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig is a famous Pakistani lawyer of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He is a close associate of Chief Justice Chaudary Iftikhar Ahmed and has played a big role in the lawyers’ movement which resisted the orders of Pervez Musharaf. It was due to his fiery leadership that Musharaf government was forced to release the detained Chief Justice and take back orders which deposed off many lawyers.

Rana Bhagwandas is the second non-muslim to hold the position of Chief Justice in Pakistan. He retired as a justice and is highly respected for his stand against the injustices committed on the underprivileged and the minorities. He took strong notice of the killings committed in the name of honor in rural areas.

Pride of Pakistan: Top Human Rights Activists of Pakistan

Asma Jahangir is a lawyer by profession and woman of substance, a true warrior and a true advocate of the poor and the oppressed. She has relentlessly worked for the rights of minorities, women and children in Pakistan. Undaunted she has raised her voice against the atrocities committed on women, children and minorities and as a consequence has been attacked and manhandled by the police and people in power. Her services and her spirit have been acknowledged both locally and internationally and as long as people like her exist in Pakistan, there is hope that justice will prevail.

Ansar Burney is another human rights activist from Pakistan who has proved that the service of humans knows no boundaries. Throughout his thirty years of service as a human rights activist he has freed scores of people languishing in jails for no reason. He was the first one to raise his voice against child labor and bring the misery of the camel kids to limelight. Ansar Burney helps people irrespective of their religion, caste, creed and even nationality. Recently he arranged the safe release of the crew members of MV Suez from Somali pirates. The crew comprised of Indians, Egyptians, Pakistanis and a Sri Lankan.

Zia Ahmed Awan is a ray of hope for scores of women and children whose rights have been usurped by the custodians of the society. Child labor, child abuse and domestic violence are on the rise even in this day and age. Zia Ahmed Awan has set up LHRLA (Lawyers of Human Rights and Legal Aid) a non-government organization committed to help children who are sexually abused and women who suffer from domestic violence or any form of violence. People facing exploitation and harassment can also seek help. This organization helps people irrespective of their religion and status.

Pride of Pakistan: Top doctors of Pakistan

Dr. Nafis Sadik is the Pride of Pakistan. A graduate from Dow Medical College she did her internship in gynecology and obstetrics from America and after earning Fellowship from Canada she returned to Pakistan where she served as a civilian doctor in military hospitals. While working here she witnessed the plight of women and the burden of pregnancies on them. She then resolved to alleviate it by educating women in particular and masses in general about family planning. She has rendered her services in many parts of the world where death rates during child birth where high. In recognition to her services she has been conferred with many awards. She is also the first woman ever to hold the office of Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with the rank of Under-Secretary-General, from 1987 to 2000.

Dr. Rehana Mohammed Ali Shah has the distinction of being the first ever Pakistani female orthopedic surgeon. She graduated from Dow Medical College and got her FRCS degree from Scotland. To date she has performed over 5000 surgeries.

Dr Adeeb Rizvi is a Pakistani doctor and a philanthropist who has worked untiringly to help the suffering humanity. He set up SIUT (Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplant) the largest charitable organ transplant institute. Funded by the public this institute provides free treatment to the people suffering from renal problems from every nook and corner of the country.

A graduate from Dow Medical College, Dr. Sohail Ansari is an active member of the National Health Services and Consultant Physician in the U.K. He is the President of Pakistan Essex Doctors Association and has done a lot to help the doctors from Pakistan.

Lance Naik Muhammad Mehfuz Shaheed (NH) – Pride of Pakistan

Lance Naik Muhammad Mehfuz (October 25, 1944 – December 8, 1971) was an infantry soldier of Pakistan Army who embraced martyrdom at the Western Front during the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict. Mehfuz was born in Pind Malikan near Rawalpindi. He joined Pakistan Army on October 25, 1962.

During then 1971 Indo-Pak war, Lance Naik Muhammad Mehfuz was serving in ‘A’ Company of 15 Punjab Regiment. His unit was deployed at Wagah-Attari sector during the war. Though cease-fire was announced on December 16, 1971 but India was taking advantage of cease-fire by creeping into Pakistan’s territory. On the night of December 17-18, ‘A’ company was ordered to occupy Phul Kanjri village. Mehfuz who was posted in Platoon no. 3 was assigned in the leading assault party with his platoon comrades. The assault party was made to face heavy fire from the enemy pill boxes. These concrete pill boxes were inflicting heavy casualties to whole company which was only 70 yards away from the enemy position. During the assault, Indian forces had stated artillery fire causing setbacks to company’s plan. While advancing, Mehfuz lost his machine-gun due enemy shell; see this he charged towards the enemy bunker which was inflicting heavy casualties. By the time he had reached enemy bunker, his both legs were wounded by shell sprinters but he still managed to encounter his enemy. Though unarmed, he bayoneted enemy soldiers and neutralized fire from enemy bunker, thus making way for his company’s advance. He was given medical treatment but he died on the night of December 17, 1971.

He was buried in his hometown Pindi Malikan with full military honors. He was posthumously awarded Nishan e Haider for the supreme sacrificed by him. A garrison of Pakistan Army has been named after in Lahore which is known as Mehfuz Shaheed Garrison.

Jawan Sawar Muhammad Hussain Janjua Shaheed (NH) – Pride of Pakistan

Sawar Muhammad Hussain (June 18, 1949 – December 10, 1971) was a driver in the Armored Corps of Pakistan Army who got martyred during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Sawar was born in Dhok Pir Bakash (now Dhok Muhammad Hussain Janjua) in Gujar Khan.  He joined Pakistan Army on September 3, 1966 at a young age of 17 years. He was given training of driving military vehicles and was posted in a unit of Armored Crops. Despite of just being a driver, Sawar always used to participate keenly in military exercises where he learned different arts of warfare.

Sawar Muhammad was posted in 20 Lancers when 1971 war broke out between India and Pakistan. His unit was deployed in the frontline are of Zafarwal-Shakargarh.  Using his experience of military exercises, Sawar used to engage enemy by taking over a machine gun whenever such an oppurnity was available.

During the war he delivered ammunition to forward trenches despite of heaving shelling by Indian forces. He always used to volunteer for patrols and dangerous missions which earned him high name in the 20 Lancers.  On December 10, 1971 he spotted enemy tanks near a village called Harar Khurd. He informed the second-in-command of his units about the advancing tanks. He on his own initiative started directing fire to anti-tank gun crew on enemy tanks. He kept on directing fire and was hit by a burst of machine gun fire from an advancing enemy tank. Later he embraced martyrdom at around 4:00 PM that day.

Sawar Muhammad Hussain was buried in his ancestral town. He is the first soldier (foot soldier) of Pakistan Army to receive country’s highest gallantry award of Nishan-e-Haider.

 

 

Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed (NH) – Pride of Pakistan

Major Shabbir Sharif (April 28, 1943 – December 7, 1971) was a Pakistani Army officer who embraced martyrdom at Western front during the 1971 Indo-Pak. Shabbir Sharif was born in Kunjah town of District Gujrat. He did O-Levels from St. Anthony’s High School, Lahore. He joined Government College, Lahore for further studies but he received call to join Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul before he could complete his studies. Sharif had an outstanding stay at the military academy and was given the prestigious ‘Sword of Honor’ on passing out. He was commissioned in Pakistan Army on April 19, 1964 and was posted to 6^th Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment (FF).

Shabbir Sharif participated in the 1965 Indo-Pak war as a young Lieutenant. He led many successful assaults on Indian forces. During the war, he got injured and was admitted in the Military Hospital but he escaped to rejoin his unit. He was later awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat for his bravery. In 1971, Pakistan Army decided to launch an offensive on the Western front to ease pressure on its forces fighting in the Eastern Front in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Sharif by then had rose to the rank of Major by then. Major Shabbir Sharif was ordered to capture and attack an important linking bridge called ‘Gurmakhera Bridge’. Major Sharif and his troops carried out a successful assault despite of being outnumbered by Indian troops. In one of the fights with Indian troops, he engaged his counterpart Major Naryan Singh of 4 Jat in a man-to-man battle and was successful in killing him. But in the process his right shoulder was badly burnt. Another offensive was launched by Indian Army to eliminate Major Sharif’s troops on December 6, 1971. He kept leading his troops from the front despite of heaving injuries. On the morning of December 6, 1971 heaving shelling started from Indian tanks. One of the shells landed near Major Shabbir Sharif throwing him and other troops in air. He embraced martyrdom few seconds later after falling on ground. His lasts words were “don’t lose the bridge’.

Major Shabbir Sharif was buried in his hometown with full military honors. He was posthumously awarded ‘Nishan-e-Haider’.  He is the only person who has been awarded both highest gallantry awards; Sitara-e-Jurat and Nishan-e-Haider which makes him the highest decorated soldier of Pakistan Armed Forces.

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