ISLAMABAD — President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday paid glowing tribute to Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed, Nishan-e-Haider, marking the 55th anniversary of his martyrdom and honoring his unparalleled sacrifice for the motherland.
In his message, President Zardari said Rashid Minhas laid down his life for Pakistan at a young age, setting an enduring example of courage, devotion to duty and patriotism.
He described the great sacrifice of Rashid Minhas — Pakistan’s youngest recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider — as a bright chapter in the country’s history that would continue to convey a message of courage, determination and loyalty to future generations.
A Legacy of Courage and Loyalty
The president said the nation would always hold the sacrifices of its great son, other martyrs and their families in the highest regard. He added that those who sacrificed their lives defending the country were national heroes whose services and sacrifices would always be remembered.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his separate message, said the great sacrifice of Rashid Minhas Shaheed was an everlasting example of courage, patriotism and devotion to duty for the nation.
He said Rashid Minhas sacrificed his life for the defense of the motherland and national dignity, adding that his extraordinary bravery and sacrifice would always serve as a guiding light for the nation and the Pakistan Armed Forces.
Nation Reaffirms Commitment to Sovereignty
The prime minister prayed for the elevation of the martyr’s ranks and said the entire nation would always remember the sacrifices of its great martyrs.
Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests, saying the services and sacrifices of those who laid down their lives for the country would always be held in the highest esteem.
Rashid Minhas Shaheed was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest military honor, for his heroic act of preventing an aircraft from being taken to enemy territory in 1971.
