LAHORE: 05, DECEMBER, 2020: The 49th martyrdom anniversary of war hero Major Akram Shaheed, the recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider, is being observed today (Saturday).

According to the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR), chief military spokesperson Maj Gen Babar "Tribute to Maj #Akram Shaheed, #NH, 4 his supreme sacrifice. Displaying valour against all odds, he heroically repulsed innumerable attacks by enemy inflicting heavy losses in the battle of #Hilli. Such exemplary courage is the hallmark of defenders of the motherland."

The hero of the 1971 Pak-India War, Major Akram Shaheed was born on April 4, 1938 in Dingha, Gujrat District. He was commissioned in the Frontier Force Regiment of the Pakistan Army on 13 October 1963. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1965, served in the Zafarwal Sector in the 1965 Pak-India War and was promoted to Major in 1970.

Major Muhammad Akram and a company of 4 Frontier Force Regiment, which he commanded in the forward area in Hilli district, in East Pakistan in 1971, came under incessant air, artillery and armor attacks. But for an entire fortnight, despite enemy superiority in both numbers and fire power, he and his men repulsed every attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy.

Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed is one of the veteran officers of the Pakistan Army who sacrificed his life for the defence of the motherland on 5 December 1971.

Major Muhammad Akram, who was martyred at the age of 31 years and 8 months, was buried in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), but a memorial was later erected in his native Jhelum.

He was also remembered by the title of ‘Hero of Haley’. Major Akram Shaheed was awarded the highest military award Nishan-e-Haider by Pakistan Army for his valiant and courageous acts against the enemy. (04)