Rawalpindi - Youm-e-Shahadat (Martyrdom day) of Lance Naik Muhammad Mehfooz Shaheed (Nishan-e-Haider), gallant son of 15 Punjab Regiment, was commemorated on Thursday at his rest-place in village Malakan, district Rawalpindi with full military festivity.
Major General Khawar Hanif of 15 Punjab Regiment, also Director General (DG) ANF, laid the floral wreath on the grave of Muhammad Mehfooz Shaheed. The occasion was attended by representatives of 15 Punjab, serving and retired officers and jawans of Pakistan Army, relatives of Shaheed and people of the area. As per occasion, life history of L/Nk Muhammad Mehfooz Shaheed was amply highlighted.
M Mehfooz was born on 25 Oct 1944 in village Malkan of district Rawalpindi. He received his early education from his village. In 1962 he joined Pakistan Army and after completion of basic military training, in 1963 he was placed in 15 Punjab Regiment. He took part in Indo-Pak war of 1971 at Wahga border. On night 17 December, one company of 15 Punjab was ordered to attack Kangri Pull inside enemy territory. During attack, a bomb exploded near Lance Naik Muhammad Mehfooz in which he got badly injured and his machine gun became out of order. He crawled in a nearby trench of a Shaheed fighter and got hold of his machine gun and started firing. Meanwhile, he noticed that an enemy machine gun was effectively engaging own troops. Muhammad Mehfooz crawled towards enemy trench and on reaching within 10 yards charged on it. He caught the enemy firer form his neck and pushed him to death, meanwhile other two enemy soldiers kept on stabbing him with their bayonets. Lance Naik M Mehfooz got badly injured and embraced martyrdom, however his clutches never left the neck of his adversary, which was later freed with a great effort.
Indian Commanding Officer while acknowledging the bravery of Muhammad Mehfooz narrated “I have not seen such a brave Jawan in my life. Had he been in Indian Army, I would have granted him the top most military award”. On March 23, 1972, the Pakistan government in recognition to the bravery of Lance Naik Muhammad Mehfooz Shaheed awarded him with the top most military award “Nishan-e-Haider”.
As we all feel proud of L/Nk Muhammad Mehfooz Shaheed, likewise we admire his military belonging to 15 Punjab Regiment, a battalion with 150 years of meritorious history.