LAHORE - The Frontier Force Regiment yesterday presented guard of honour at the grave of Major Shabbir Sharif to pay homage to the valiant son of Pakistan who displayed unparalleled courage while defending the motherland.

Major Shabbir Sharif embraced martyrdom on December 06, at Sulemanki Sector during 1971 war, and earned the highest gallantry award of Nishan-e-Haider. He was buried at Miani Sahib Graveyard.

He also enjoys the unique honour of being the proud recipient of Sword of Honour from PMA Kakul and Sitar-e-Jurrat during 1965 War.

In 1971 war, Majior Shabbir and his men fought valiantly and held two Indian Battalions at bay by killing 43 soldiers and destroying four enemy tanks. On the night of 5/6 December, during one of the attacks, Major Shabbir Sharif jumped out of his trench, got hold of Indian Company Commander Major Narian Singh of 4 Jat Regiment and killed him single handedly in a hand to hand fight. Valuable information was obtained from the documents recovered from the pockets of Indian major.

On the afternoon of Dec 6, the enemy launched yet another counterattack preceded by air strike and heavy artillery shelling. Major Shabbir Sharif took over the duty of the gunner from his crew and started firing on the enemy tanks.

While this fight was on, one of the enemy tanks fired at him which proved fatal and resulted into the death of Major Shabbir Sharif. Thus Pakistan Army lost one of its outstanding young officers who fondly came to be known as ‘Superman’ by his colleagues and superiors alike.

A battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment in which Major Shabbir Sharif was commissioned, celebrates Shabbir Day annually with great solemnity and gratitude.

Major General Fida Hussain Malik, General Officer Commanding, laid floral wreath on behalf of Chief of Army Staff and offered prayers. Besides senior officers of the Piffers Group, former army chief General (r) Raheel Sharif, the brother of Major Shabbir Sharif, along with other family members were also present on the occasion.