Hilal-i-Jurat
Encyclopedia
The Hilal-i-Jur'atVarious official sources that are highly reputable spell the name of the medal differently, so the Pakistan Army website spelling is being taken as the official spelling construction. is the second highest military award
of Pakistan
out of a total of four gallantry awards that were created in 1957. In order of rank it comes before the Nishan-i-Haider (the Sign of the Lion, which is the equivalent to the Victoria Cross
and the Medal of Honor
under the British Honours System
and the United States Honors System respectively) coming after the Sitara-i-Ju'rat (the Star of Courage, which is the equivalent of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
and the Silver Star
).
It was created and declared for official use on 16 March 1957 by the President of Pakistan
. The Hilal-i-Ju'rat is considered to be the equivalent of the Distinguished Service Order
and the Distinguished Service Cross
. The medal is only conferable to those who are ranked at an Officer
level only and it is only allowed to be given to the Army (excluding paramilitary personnel), Navy and Air-force. The award before this honour is the Sitara-i-Ju'rat (Star of Courage), and subsequentially to this medal is the Tamgha-i-Ju'rat
(Medal of Courage).
Unlike the Nishan-i-Haider, the Hilal-i-Ju'rat is the highest military award thus far that's been given to living Pakistanis to date.The Nishan-i-Haider has been given to ten people officially since conception in 1957, some have received it before it's official creation when it was given posthumously soon after 1957, when it was made into law. Prior to this, under the British Honours System soldiers who displayed the utmost valiant acts of bravery were given the Victoria Cross. The medallion has been given to many famous Pakistani army personal, including many national heroes. Most notably, well known major general
s, brigadier
s and lieutenants of the Pakistan Armed Forces have all received the medal.See the list of recipients under Recipients
The award holds significant benefits for the recipient including social
, political and financial benefits. Land and pensions are awarded as recompense for serving in the Army of Pakistan on behalf of the State for acts of "valour and courage" during battle against the enemy. As of 2003 it was revealed that cash rewards have replaced land being given to the recipient under new defence housing schemes, which had taken place for the duration of the past twelve years perpetrated by the army, which was accounted to the Pakistan National Assembly as reported in the last decade.
Established on 16 March 1957, the award was founded in celebration of Pakistan becoming a Republic and was formally given award status by the President of Pakistan
. According to the official army website of Pakistan the award is given for "acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty, performed on land, at sea or in the air in the face of the enemy".Pakistan Army Website, Quote: "This award is conferrable on officers only, for acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty, performed on land, at sea or in the air in the face of the enemy..." The recipient of the award is able to use the distinguished honorific
post-nominal letters "HJ" after his or her name. The apportion is considered to be the equivalent to the Distinguished Service Order
under the British Honours System
and the United States Distinguished Service Cross
.
The names of the medals originate from the Persian language
but are written in the form of the Arabic language
.Shah Azizur Rahman
, Quote: "The Parliamentary Secretary has said that the language inscribed on the military medals instituted by the President is in Arabic. May I know whether Sitara-i-Jurat is Arabic..."
Dr. Aleem-al-Razee: Quote: "I want to ask the honourable Parliamentary Secretary to state the reason of inscribing Arabic script the titles Nishan-e-Haider, Hilal-e-Juraat, Sitara-e-Juraat, Sitara-e-Basalat and Tamgha-e-Basalat, which are words of the Persian language..." This was unusual since the major languages of Pakistan are Punjabi
and Urdu
. In the Pakistan Parliament there was a debate on why the names were given in Persian but were spelled in Arabic as some politicians were not entirely sure other medals made were inscribed of words from the Arabic language in the decade that it was made official.
Pakistan became a republic in 1956. Prior to that Pakistan had been a dominion
of Great Britain and had as such come under the British honours system. When the award was established, however, it was instituted retrospectively back to 15 August 1947—the date of Indian Independence and Partition of India
– and it was subsequently conferred on a number of Pakistani officers for service during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
.
One particular unit that appeared in an article from Dawn
, the Guards Battalion, was mentioned which emphasized that they had earned several Military Cross
es and one Victoria Cross
was congratulated in 2004 by the president. In the article it was emphasized that before partition the unit had been given British gallantry awards which suggests the Hilal-i-Jur'at didn't exist at the time.
with Arabic
lettering in gold. The ribbon attached to the golden bar is made up of three stripes, totalling two colours (two red and one green) that have been placed on the gallantary award. On the official Pakistan Army website the colour insignia is seen as being red, green, red.
Officers serving in the Pakistani Armed Forces, including and limited to the Pakistan Army
, the Pakistani Navy and the Pakistani Air Force, are the only eligible potential recipients for the award. It is conferred for acts of valour, courage
, bravery and devotion to duty
. The following is an extract, a word for word statement stating the eligibility of the medal on the Pakistan Army website.
The recipients of the medal are allowed to use the honorific post nominal title letters "HJ" after their names as stated again by the Pakistan Army:
Although there rules are clear, there have been some challenges to change the rules. In March 2009 a group of policeman in Islamabad
challenged the eligibility requirements by campaigning for the medal to be given to Faisal Khan, a police officer, who gave up his life by successfully preventing an Uzbek
suicide bomber from entering a police station
and causing massive widespread casualties. The journalist covering the incident wrote about the anger felt in the community, particularly from the policeman whom Faisal Khan worked with:
Khan had adamament dreams of joining the military in his youth or the police force. Whilst he was a police officer he was said to have wanted to "die in the line of duty", serving in the military for his country; many of his colleagues felt that this was a viable reason for him qualifying for the Hilal-i-Jur'at since he didn't receive any gallantry award, only a cash lump sum.
Tajammul Hussain Malik
, who in his 1991 book, The Story of My Struggle, revealed this.
Squadron Leader Safaraz was said to have received seventy seven acres (0.3116 km2) of land, which was later donated to a charity to benefit the poor and needy, for both his Hilal-i-Ju'rat and the Sitara-i-Ju'rat medals.Quote: "His selfless devotion to duty was acknowledged by the award of a Sitara-e-Jurat (along with Cecil and Yunus), as well as a Hilal-e-Jurat. PAF Base, Rafiqui (Shorkot), named after him, rekindles the spirit of his chivalry. (Sarfaraz Rafiqui Welfare Trust, based on 77 acres of prime agricultural land in Faisalabad Division, continues to benefit the poor and the needy. The land, given by the Government of Pakistan as recompense with the awards of HJ & SJ, was most generously bequeathed by Sarfaraz-s parents for the Trust, which is administered by the PAF)" – Captain Kaiser Tufail, Pakistan Defence Journal (Online) About the author Quote: "(Group Captain Kaiser Tufail was commissioned in 1975. He has flown virtually all types of combat aircraft in PAF including thr F-16. He commanded a Mirage Squadron and later a Flying Wing. A graduate of Air War College, he has also been on its faculty. He holds a Master-s degree in Strategic Studies. For his meritorious services he has been awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) by the Government of Pakistan.)".
Mathematically, if the seventy seven acre's is divided and the sums calculated, one square of land, which was awarded to the Sitara-i-Jur'at recipient (according to the book The Story of My Struggle), then this would mean "one square of land" is the equivalent of 25.41 acres (0.1028 km2 or 0.039703 mi (0.06389562602 km)2), making "two squares of land" equal to 50.82 acres (0.2057 km2 or 0.079406 mi (0.12779125204 km)2). The method of calculating the sums is detailed as below with two sources being taken in for consideration to calculate the land awardances on a logical basis.How The Calculation Was Carried Out:
Information From Sources
1 Square of Land is awarded for the Sitara-i-Jur'at, 2 Squares of Land for the Hilal-Jur'at.
Safaraz was awarded 77 acres for both his Sitara-i-Jur'at and Hilal-i-Jur'at medals. This is the equivalent of 3 Squares of land altogether when added up.
Logistical Method
77 acres divided by 3 Squares of Land will give you the land in acres given for 1 square of land.
Multiply (77 acres divided by 3) altogether by 2 and this gives the 2 Squares of Land in acres for the Hilal-i-Jur'at medal.
Quick Representation:
It was revealed by the Pakistan news agency Dawn.com
, that the gallantry awards have major cash rewards for the recipients and in the last twelve years this has replaced land awardances given to the recipient under defence housing schemes, which was reported in 2003 to the National Assembly of Pakistan. Rs.500,000 rupees (£3679.98 or $5824.13, or €4317.5 as of September 2010) are given as recompense for obtaining the Hilal-i-Ju'rat during service."The minister--" Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqba "--said that no allotment of land was being made to the army personnel on receiving gallantry awards. However cash awards, attached to the military awards, were given to them. Winner of Nishan-i-Haider is awarded Rs1 million, Hilal-i-Jura’t Rs500,000, Sitar-i-Jura’at Rs400,000, Tamgha-i-Jura’at 300,000, Sitar-i-Basalat 200,000 and Tamgha-i-Basalat Rs100,000. -- Dawn Reporter
During the Kargil Conflict in 1999, however, land was given to those that participated in the war and to those that gained gallantry awards. The Kargil Conflict was the only exception to this when it came to the land awards when the housing schemes were taking place.
, who was known as the second most powerful man in Pakistan during the 1980s, known for being the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence
Agency (ISI) during Zia-ul-Huq's Presidency. The ISI is the equivalence of the British intelligence service, MI5
and for Americans, the CIA.
General Ayub Khan, the first military ruler of Pakistan who became a controversial figure towards the end of his presidency, serving as the second President of Pakistan
between 1958 to 1969, also received the award. Notably A.O. Mitha, a legendary Major General
who played a significant part in the 1971 Liberation War in which he was stationed in East Pakistan
(modern day Bangladesh
), which ultimately lead to the Secession of Bangladesh, was also bestowed the medal.
Other notable heroic personnel of the Pakistan Army
who died during service and were given the medal in the line of fire
include Ghulam Hussain Shaheed for his duty in standing his ground during an ambush by the Indian army near Pakistan's modern day border, near Kasur
(of which it was later re-named after him). He was said to have held the national flag of Pakistan
until his last breath when he was fatally wounded twice during battle with Indian armed soldiers.
, considered a national hero in the region, was bestowed the award after a war between neighbouring countries Pakistan and India erupted. He earned the prestigious award for bravely fighting and defending his pilots against the Indian Air Force during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
in which he participated to the end. He was shot down over the Indian air base in the final moments of air warfare.
His equipment malfunctioned and subsequently he was left in a position to attempt to lure enemy pilots away from concentrating fire on the two fully functioning jets left on the battlefield. Taking on heavy fire during the air attack on 6 September, he was finally brought down and crashed in the airfield. His parents were informed he was given the honour in a telegram sent by the PAF
.
The mission he was sent on went awry as the result of his guns jamming mid-battle, and as the fighting commenced IAF pilot, Flight Lieutenant DN Rathore of 27th Squadron, shot down his fighter jet after Rafiqui's unit caused significant damage to the enemy. It is reported eight Hunters and five pilots were destroyed, which included the defeat of the IAF Squadron Leader Ajit Kumar `Peter' Rawlley of the 7th Squadron of the Indian Air Forces. Rafiqui's qualification for the posthumous honour was enhanced as a direct result of the prestigious Best Pilot Trophy from the Pakistan Air Force Academy
in Risalpur
where he received it five months after graduating, leading him to be apportioned the penultimate gallantry award from the state, the Hilal-i-Ju'rat after the 1965 war had ended. He, along with his subordinates, Cecil Chaudhry
and Yunis Hussain, were given the Sitara-i-Jur'at. Chaudhry was the only survivor left who made it back to the home airbase. Pakistan’s third airbase, the Rafiqui Airbase (Shorkot Cantonment), is named after Sarfaraz. His body was never found and still lies somewhere around the Halwara Airbase where the battle took place.
Click the scroll bars below to view notable recipients of the award
near Sitara Market in Islamabad
. After he was killed many around the area were thankful for his sacrifice
, especially the local police, who thought Khan deserved being given heroic status
by the country. Although the bomber did kill several people, it was thought he could have done more damage by causing a high number of casualties which could have arisin if Khan didn't stop the man going towards the branch. The building was described as being "poorly guarded" at the time. Khan only received Rs.150,000
(£1107.68 or $1753.41 or €1300.87 as of September 2010), which was given to his siblings, as he had no parents nor a family of his own.
Controversy arose when this amount was seen as not being nearly enough for what he had done, and that the thirty year old Khan deserved more for his sacrifice such as gaining the prestigious Hilal-i-Jur'at for his duty in guarding the station. In memory, because of his aspirations in wanting to always "join the army or police force" in his youth and adult life, some thought he deserved the gallantry award in honour for what he did in protecting and saving the lives of many people around the area. The police force decided to campaign
against the low sum of money that was given to him by submitting a recommendation for him to receive the Hilal-i-Jur'at to the government of Pakistan
, as they saw it as an embarrassment
for the state in not recognising Khan as a "national hero".
Awards and decorations of the Pakistan military
The awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces recognize a service member's service and personal accomplishments while a member of the Pakistan armed forces...
of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
out of a total of four gallantry awards that were created in 1957. In order of rank it comes before the Nishan-i-Haider (the Sign of the Lion, which is the equivalent to the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
and the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
under the British Honours System
British honours system
The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement, or service to the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories...
and the United States Honors System respectively) coming after the Sitara-i-Ju'rat (the Star of Courage, which is the equivalent of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross is a second level military decoration of the United Kingdom armed forces. Created in 1993 and first awarded in 1995, it was instituted after a review of the British honours system to remove distinctions of rank in the awarding of gallantry decorations...
and the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
).
It was created and declared for official use on 16 March 1957 by the President of Pakistan
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
. The Hilal-i-Ju'rat is considered to be the equivalent of the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
and the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
. The medal is only conferable to those who are ranked at an Officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
level only and it is only allowed to be given to the Army (excluding paramilitary personnel), Navy and Air-force. The award before this honour is the Sitara-i-Ju'rat (Star of Courage), and subsequentially to this medal is the Tamgha-i-Ju'rat
Tamgha-i-Jurat
Tamgha-i-Jurat , is the fourth highest military award of Pakistan. It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic, however, it was instituted retrospectively back to 1947...
(Medal of Courage).
Unlike the Nishan-i-Haider, the Hilal-i-Ju'rat is the highest military award thus far that's been given to living Pakistanis to date.The Nishan-i-Haider has been given to ten people officially since conception in 1957, some have received it before it's official creation when it was given posthumously soon after 1957, when it was made into law. Prior to this, under the British Honours System soldiers who displayed the utmost valiant acts of bravery were given the Victoria Cross. The medallion has been given to many famous Pakistani army personal, including many national heroes. Most notably, well known major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
s, brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
s and lieutenants of the Pakistan Armed Forces have all received the medal.See the list of recipients under Recipients
The award holds significant benefits for the recipient including social
Reputation
Reputation of a social entity is an opinion about that entity, typically a result of social evaluation on a set of criteria...
, political and financial benefits. Land and pensions are awarded as recompense for serving in the Army of Pakistan on behalf of the State for acts of "valour and courage" during battle against the enemy. As of 2003 it was revealed that cash rewards have replaced land being given to the recipient under new defence housing schemes, which had taken place for the duration of the past twelve years perpetrated by the army, which was accounted to the Pakistan National Assembly as reported in the last decade.
History
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
. According to the official army website of Pakistan the award is given for "acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty, performed on land, at sea or in the air in the face of the enemy".Pakistan Army Website, Quote: "This award is conferrable on officers only, for acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty, performed on land, at sea or in the air in the face of the enemy..." The recipient of the award is able to use the distinguished honorific
Honorific
An honorific is a word or expression with connotations conveying esteem or respect when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term is used not quite correctly to refer to an honorary title...
post-nominal letters "HJ" after his or her name. The apportion is considered to be the equivalent to the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
under the British Honours System
British honours system
The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement, or service to the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories...
and the United States Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
.
The names of the medals originate from the Persian language
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
but are written in the form of the Arabic language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
.Shah Azizur Rahman
Shah Azizur Rahman
Shah Azizur Rahman was a Bangladeshi politician who served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. However, he was the subject of considerable controversy for his collaboration with the Pakistan Army against the struggle to establish Bangladesh....
, Quote: "The Parliamentary Secretary has said that the language inscribed on the military medals instituted by the President is in Arabic. May I know whether Sitara-i-Jurat is Arabic..."
Dr. Aleem-al-Razee: Quote: "I want to ask the honourable Parliamentary Secretary to state the reason of inscribing Arabic script the titles Nishan-e-Haider, Hilal-e-Juraat, Sitara-e-Juraat, Sitara-e-Basalat and Tamgha-e-Basalat, which are words of the Persian language..." This was unusual since the major languages of Pakistan are Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
and Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
. In the Pakistan Parliament there was a debate on why the names were given in Persian but were spelled in Arabic as some politicians were not entirely sure other medals made were inscribed of words from the Arabic language in the decade that it was made official.
Pakistan became a republic in 1956. Prior to that Pakistan had been a dominion
Dominion
A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...
of Great Britain and had as such come under the British honours system. When the award was established, however, it was instituted retrospectively back to 15 August 1947—the date of Indian Independence and Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
– and it was subsequently conferred on a number of Pakistani officers for service during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
The India-Pakistan War of 1947-48, sometimes known as the First Kashmir War, was fought between India and Pakistan over the princely state of Kashmir and Jammu from 1947 to 1948. It was the first of four wars fought between the two newly independent nations...
.
One particular unit that appeared in an article from Dawn
Dawn (newspaper)
Dawn is Pakistan's oldest and most widely read English-language newspaper. One of the country's two largest English-language dailies, it is the flagship of the Dawn Group of Newspapers, published by Pakistan Herald Publications, which also owns the Herald, a magazine, the evening paper The Star and...
, the Guards Battalion, was mentioned which emphasized that they had earned several Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
es and one Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
was congratulated in 2004 by the president. In the article it was emphasized that before partition the unit had been given British gallantry awards which suggests the Hilal-i-Jur'at didn't exist at the time.
Appearance
It is a circular golden medal, surrounded by ten bundles of golden leaves with the Islamic crescent and star at its centre, suspended from a golden bar that reads "Hilal-i-Ju'rat" in PersianPersian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
with Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
lettering in gold. The ribbon attached to the golden bar is made up of three stripes, totalling two colours (two red and one green) that have been placed on the gallantary award. On the official Pakistan Army website the colour insignia is seen as being red, green, red.
Eligibility and Privileges
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
, the Pakistani Navy and the Pakistani Air Force, are the only eligible potential recipients for the award. It is conferred for acts of valour, courage
Courage
Courage is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation...
, bravery and devotion to duty
Duty
Duty is a term that conveys a sense of moral commitment to someone or something. The moral commitment is the sort that results in action and it is not a matter of passive feeling or mere recognition...
. The following is an extract, a word for word statement stating the eligibility of the medal on the Pakistan Army website.
This award is conferrable on officers only, for acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty, performed on land, at sea or in the air in the face of the enemy.
– Pakistan Army (Website)
The recipients of the medal are allowed to use the honorific post nominal title letters "HJ" after their names as stated again by the Pakistan Army:
The recipient has the privilege to add the letters “HJ” after his name.
– Pakistan Army (Website)
Although there rules are clear, there have been some challenges to change the rules. In March 2009 a group of policeman in Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
challenged the eligibility requirements by campaigning for the medal to be given to Faisal Khan, a police officer, who gave up his life by successfully preventing an Uzbek
Uzbeks
The Uzbeks are a Turkic ethnic group in Central Asia. They comprise the majority population of Uzbekistan, and large populations can also be found in Afghanistan, Tajikstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Pakistan, Mongolia and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China...
suicide bomber from entering a police station
Police station
A police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
and causing massive widespread casualties. The journalist covering the incident wrote about the anger felt in the community, particularly from the policeman whom Faisal Khan worked with:
...So sad is the situation that the police have to submit a recommendation for an award ‘Hilal-i-Jurrat’ and more money for his brave feat...
– Nosheen Abbas, Journalist covering the life of Faisal Khan.
Khan had adamament dreams of joining the military in his youth or the police force. Whilst he was a police officer he was said to have wanted to "die in the line of duty", serving in the military for his country; many of his colleagues felt that this was a viable reason for him qualifying for the Hilal-i-Jur'at since he didn't receive any gallantry award, only a cash lump sum.
Benefits
As well as commanding respect and admiration the Hilal-i-Ju'rat holds huge financial benefits for the recipient including land being given to the awardee. In accordance with Pakistan Law the recipient of the Hilal-i-Ju'rat is granted "two squares of land" according to retired Major General of the Pakistan ArmyPakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
Tajammul Hussain Malik
Tajammul Hussain Malik
Major General Tajammul Hussain Malik is a senior and former 2-star rank general officer in the Pakistan army and the former General Officer Commanding of the 23rd Division of Pakistan Army, retiring with the rank of Major-General...
, who in his 1991 book, The Story of My Struggle, revealed this.
Squadron Leader Safaraz was said to have received seventy seven acres (0.3116 km2) of land, which was later donated to a charity to benefit the poor and needy, for both his Hilal-i-Ju'rat and the Sitara-i-Ju'rat medals.Quote: "His selfless devotion to duty was acknowledged by the award of a Sitara-e-Jurat (along with Cecil and Yunus), as well as a Hilal-e-Jurat. PAF Base, Rafiqui (Shorkot), named after him, rekindles the spirit of his chivalry. (Sarfaraz Rafiqui Welfare Trust, based on 77 acres of prime agricultural land in Faisalabad Division, continues to benefit the poor and the needy. The land, given by the Government of Pakistan as recompense with the awards of HJ & SJ, was most generously bequeathed by Sarfaraz-s parents for the Trust, which is administered by the PAF)" – Captain Kaiser Tufail, Pakistan Defence Journal (Online) About the author Quote: "(Group Captain Kaiser Tufail was commissioned in 1975. He has flown virtually all types of combat aircraft in PAF including thr F-16. He commanded a Mirage Squadron and later a Flying Wing. A graduate of Air War College, he has also been on its faculty. He holds a Master-s degree in Strategic Studies. For his meritorious services he has been awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) by the Government of Pakistan.)".
Mathematically, if the seventy seven acre's is divided and the sums calculated, one square of land, which was awarded to the Sitara-i-Jur'at recipient (according to the book The Story of My Struggle), then this would mean "one square of land" is the equivalent of 25.41 acres (0.1028 km2 or 0.039703 mi (0.06389562602 km)2), making "two squares of land" equal to 50.82 acres (0.2057 km2 or 0.079406 mi (0.12779125204 km)2). The method of calculating the sums is detailed as below with two sources being taken in for consideration to calculate the land awardances on a logical basis.How The Calculation Was Carried Out:
1 Square of Land is awarded for the Sitara-i-Jur'at, 2 Squares of Land for the Hilal-Jur'at.
Safaraz was awarded 77 acres for both his Sitara-i-Jur'at and Hilal-i-Jur'at medals. This is the equivalent of 3 Squares of land altogether when added up.
77 acres divided by 3 Squares of Land will give you the land in acres given for 1 square of land.
Multiply (77 acres divided by 3) altogether by 2 and this gives the 2 Squares of Land in acres for the Hilal-i-Jur'at medal.
It was revealed by the Pakistan news agency Dawn.com
Dawn (newspaper)
Dawn is Pakistan's oldest and most widely read English-language newspaper. One of the country's two largest English-language dailies, it is the flagship of the Dawn Group of Newspapers, published by Pakistan Herald Publications, which also owns the Herald, a magazine, the evening paper The Star and...
, that the gallantry awards have major cash rewards for the recipients and in the last twelve years this has replaced land awardances given to the recipient under defence housing schemes, which was reported in 2003 to the National Assembly of Pakistan. Rs.500,000 rupees (£3679.98 or $5824.13, or €4317.5 as of September 2010) are given as recompense for obtaining the Hilal-i-Ju'rat during service."The minister--" Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqba "--said that no allotment of land was being made to the army personnel on receiving gallantry awards. However cash awards, attached to the military awards, were given to them. Winner of Nishan-i-Haider is awarded Rs1 million, Hilal-i-Jura’t Rs500,000, Sitar-i-Jura’at Rs400,000, Tamgha-i-Jura’at 300,000, Sitar-i-Basalat 200,000 and Tamgha-i-Basalat Rs100,000. -- Dawn Reporter
During the Kargil Conflict in 1999, however, land was given to those that participated in the war and to those that gained gallantry awards. The Kargil Conflict was the only exception to this when it came to the land awards when the housing schemes were taking place.
Recipients
Several high profile generals of the Pakistan army have received the Hilal-i-Jur'at medal, who've gone on to make successful careers in the army and in Pakistani politics including Akhtar Abdur RahmanAkhtar Abdur Rahman
General Akhtar Abdur Rahman Khan , born in Rampur, was a 4-star general in the Pakistan Army. He served as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee from 1987–1988 and as Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence from 1980-1987...
, who was known as the second most powerful man in Pakistan during the 1980s, known for being the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence
Inter-Services Intelligence
The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence , is Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, responsible for providing critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan...
Agency (ISI) during Zia-ul-Huq's Presidency. The ISI is the equivalence of the British intelligence service, MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
and for Americans, the CIA.
General Ayub Khan, the first military ruler of Pakistan who became a controversial figure towards the end of his presidency, serving as the second President of Pakistan
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
between 1958 to 1969, also received the award. Notably A.O. Mitha, a legendary Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
who played a significant part in the 1971 Liberation War in which he was stationed in East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
(modern day Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
), which ultimately lead to the Secession of Bangladesh, was also bestowed the medal.
Other notable heroic personnel of the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
who died during service and were given the medal in the line of fire
Battle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
include Ghulam Hussain Shaheed for his duty in standing his ground during an ambush by the Indian army near Pakistan's modern day border, near Kasur
Kasur
Kasur , the capital of Kasur District in Pakistan. Kasur is located adjacent to the border of Ganda Singh Wala between Pakistan and India, and is a tourist attraction because of the daily occurring Flags lowering ceremony...
(of which it was later re-named after him). He was said to have held the national flag of Pakistan
Flag of Pakistan
The national flag of Pakistan was adopted in its present form during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947, just three days before the country's independence, when it became the official flag of the Dominion of Pakistan. It was afterwards retained by the current-day Islamic...
until his last breath when he was fatally wounded twice during battle with Indian armed soldiers.
Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui
Most significantly of all Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Ahmed RafiquiSarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui
Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui was a well-known fighter pilot in the Pakistan Air Force. He is recognised for services to his country during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, and is a recipient of both the Hilal-e-Jurat and the Sitara-e-Jurat...
, considered a national hero in the region, was bestowed the award after a war between neighbouring countries Pakistan and India erupted. He earned the prestigious award for bravely fighting and defending his pilots against the Indian Air Force during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. This conflict became known as the Second Kashmir War fought by India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, the first having been fought in 1947...
in which he participated to the end. He was shot down over the Indian air base in the final moments of air warfare.
His equipment malfunctioned and subsequently he was left in a position to attempt to lure enemy pilots away from concentrating fire on the two fully functioning jets left on the battlefield. Taking on heavy fire during the air attack on 6 September, he was finally brought down and crashed in the airfield. His parents were informed he was given the honour in a telegram sent by the PAF
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
.
The mission he was sent on went awry as the result of his guns jamming mid-battle, and as the fighting commenced IAF pilot, Flight Lieutenant DN Rathore of 27th Squadron, shot down his fighter jet after Rafiqui's unit caused significant damage to the enemy. It is reported eight Hunters and five pilots were destroyed, which included the defeat of the IAF Squadron Leader Ajit Kumar `Peter' Rawlley of the 7th Squadron of the Indian Air Forces. Rafiqui's qualification for the posthumous honour was enhanced as a direct result of the prestigious Best Pilot Trophy from the Pakistan Air Force Academy
Pakistan Air Force Academy
"RAF Risalpur", "Risalpur Airbase/Airfield" & "Pakistan Air Force/PAF Base Risalpur" redirects here.The Pakistan Air Force Academy also known as PAFA, is an accredited co-educational four-year college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the Pakistan Air Force...
in Risalpur
Risalpur
Risalpur is a city in Nowshera District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, on the Nowshera-Mardan Road. It is nearly 45 km from Peshawar and 15 km from Mardan and is located at 34°4'52N 71°58'21E. In a basin some 1014 feet above sea level, it is bounded on the south and west by the Kabul and...
where he received it five months after graduating, leading him to be apportioned the penultimate gallantry award from the state, the Hilal-i-Ju'rat after the 1965 war had ended. He, along with his subordinates, Cecil Chaudhry
Cecil Chaudhry
Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry is a Pakistani Christian, educationalist, human rights activist and veteran fighter pilot. As a Flight Lieutenant, he fought in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 and later, as a Squadron Leader, in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971...
and Yunis Hussain, were given the Sitara-i-Jur'at. Chaudhry was the only survivor left who made it back to the home airbase. Pakistan’s third airbase, the Rafiqui Airbase (Shorkot Cantonment), is named after Sarfaraz. His body was never found and still lies somewhere around the Halwara Airbase where the battle took place.
List of Notable Recipients
Retractions
During the Bangladesh War of 1971 seveveral HJ's were given out and later retracted.Faisal Khan
On 23 March 2009, Faisal Khan, who was outside the gates of the "G-7 special police branch", was killed when he stopped and refused to let go of an apparent suicide bomber of Uzbek origin who wanted to blow up the police compoundTerrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
near Sitara Market in Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
. After he was killed many around the area were thankful for his sacrifice
Sacrifice
Sacrifice is the offering of food, objects or the lives of animals or people to God or the gods as an act of propitiation or worship.While sacrifice often implies ritual killing, the term offering can be used for bloodless sacrifices of cereal food or artifacts...
, especially the local police, who thought Khan deserved being given heroic status
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
by the country. Although the bomber did kill several people, it was thought he could have done more damage by causing a high number of casualties which could have arisin if Khan didn't stop the man going towards the branch. The building was described as being "poorly guarded" at the time. Khan only received Rs.150,000
Pakistani rupee
The rupee is the currency of Pakistan. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the State Bank of Pakistan, the central bank of the country. The most commonly used symbol for the rupee is Rs, used on receipts when purchasing goods and services. In Pakistan, the rupee is referred to as the...
(£1107.68 or $1753.41 or €1300.87 as of September 2010), which was given to his siblings, as he had no parents nor a family of his own.
Despite the poor conditions of the police and the faulty hierarchic and bureaucratic system in the police force, he sank with his ship. But was he acknowledged by the state as a hero? Certainly not. Prime Minister’s adviser on Interior Senator Rehman Malik had announced Rs150,000 for his family – which is a measly amount for someone’s life – for someone who sacrificed his life for others and is nothing less than a national hero[...] Sadly the state too has not shown its appreciation of such a man who saved the lives of so many especially in a time when they are most ill-equipped and the prime targets[...] Its individuals like Faisal Khan who make the difference but get little acknowledgement. When will the government realise that their faces are saved from public humiliation because of the sacrifice of many Faisal Khans[?]
– Nosheen Abbas, documenting the life Faisal Khan, 3 April 2009.
Controversy arose when this amount was seen as not being nearly enough for what he had done, and that the thirty year old Khan deserved more for his sacrifice such as gaining the prestigious Hilal-i-Jur'at for his duty in guarding the station. In memory, because of his aspirations in wanting to always "join the army or police force" in his youth and adult life, some thought he deserved the gallantry award in honour for what he did in protecting and saving the lives of many people around the area. The police force decided to campaign
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
against the low sum of money that was given to him by submitting a recommendation for him to receive the Hilal-i-Jur'at to the government of Pakistan
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
, as they saw it as an embarrassment
Shame
Shame is, variously, an affect, emotion, cognition, state, or condition. The roots of the word shame are thought to derive from an older word meaning to cover; as such, covering oneself, literally or figuratively, is a natural expression of shame....
for the state in not recognising Khan as a "national hero".