KARACHI: The 46th martyrdom anniversary of 1971 war hero Major Shabbir Sharif is being observed today (Wednesday).

Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed was awarded Nishan-e-Haider for his valour and bravery during the 1971 war. He also received a Sitara-e-Jurrat in 1965 Sword of Honor from Kakul Academy.

Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed. Photo: courtesy Pakistan Army website

 

Born on April 29, 1943, in Kunjah, Gujrat District, Major Shabbir Sharif is the brother of the former chief of army staff Raheel Sharif, who is the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition Commander-in-Chief.

Major Shabbir Sharif?s family visited his grave in Miani Sahib Graveyard, while army troops offered Fateha and laid a floral wreath on his grave. 

Biography

Major Shabbir Sharif was commissioned into the Frontier Force Regiment on April 19, 1964.

During the 1971 war, Major Shabbir Sharif, as commander of a company of 6 Frontier Force Regiment, was ordered to capture high ground near Sulemanki Headworks, which was defended by more than a company of the Assam Regiment supported by a squadron of tanks.

?In a well organised superhuman action, for the next three days and nights after crossing a minefield and massive obstacles and killing forty-three soldiers and destroying four tanks, Major Shabbir Sharif and his men held two enemy battalions at bay,? according to Pakistan Army?s website.

However, Shabbir embraced martyrdom on December 6, 1971, after taking over an anti-tank gun from his gunner.