Muhammad Akram
Encyclopedia
Major
Muhammad Akram (Urdu
: محمد اکرم; c. 1938–1971), was a Pakistan Army
officer who was posthumously awarded the Pakistan military's highest decoration, the Nishan-e-Haider
, for his actions during the 1971 Indo-Pak
. Akram was sent on several missions in 1971 India-Pakistan War, and was killed in Battle of Hilli
, 1971.
Village, District of Gujrat, Punjab
, while he belonged to the village of Nakka Kalan
in the district of Jhelum
. Ethnically, he belonged to Awan tribe
of Pakistan. In 1959, Akram was accepted in Pakistan Military Academy
and graduated from there in 1963. He gained a commissioned in 1963 as part of the Frontier Force Regiment. Akram participated in 1965 Indo-Pak September War
as a Captain where he led several successful military operations against Indian Army
. Stationed in Lahore, Akram, while commanded, a small company led several decisive operations against the Indian Armed Forces.
In 1969, Akram was promoted as Major
. In 1971, as Major
of the Pakistan Army
, Akram fought in the war with India. In the Battle of Hilli
for his leadership, bravery and eventually, rendering the ultimate sacrifice, Major Akram was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider
, Pakistan's highest military award.
During the Bangladesh Liberation War
of 1971, the 4th FF Regiment, which Akram commanded, was placed in the forward area of the Hilli district, in what was then East Pakistan
. The regiment came under continuous and heavy air, artillery and armour attacks from the Indian Army
. For an entire fortnight, despite enemy superiority in both numbers and fire power, Akram and his men repulsed every attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Akram died during this battle. Major Muhammad Akram (N.H) was buried in village-Boaldar,Thana/Upozila-Hakimpur(Banglahilly),District-Dinajpur. There is a monument, Major Akram Shaheed Memorial
, in the midst of Jhelum city. He is called hero of Hilli. Anjum Sultan Shahbaz famous writer and historian has mentioned him in the book Tareekh-e-Jhelum and Shohdai Jhelum.
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Muhammad Akram (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...
: محمد اکرم; c. 1938–1971), was a 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...
officer who was posthumously awarded the Pakistan military's highest decoration, the Nishan-e-Haider
Nishan-e-Haider
Nishan-e-Haider or Nishan-e-Hyder is the highest military decoration given by Pakistan . It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic, however, it was instituted retrospectively from Independence in 1947...
, for his actions during the 1971 Indo-Pak
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
. Akram was sent on several missions in 1971 India-Pakistan War, and was killed in Battle of Hilli
Battle of Hilli
The Battle of Hilli or the Battle of Bogra was a major battle fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Bangladesh Liberation War. It is generally regarded as the most pitched battle that took place in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh...
, 1971.
Military career
Akram was born in DingaDinga
Dinga is a city of Gujrat District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It lies between the rivers Jhelum and Chenab. The main highway that runs from Lahore to Rawalpindi is about 25 km northeast of Dinga...
Village, District of Gujrat, Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, while he belonged to the village of Nakka Kalan
Nakka Kalan
Naka Kalan is a village of Attock District in the Punjab province of Pakistan....
in the district of Jhelum
Jhelum District
Jhelum District is in the Punjab province of Pakistan. According the 1998 census the district had a population of 936,957, of which 31.48% were urban. Jhelum is known for providing a large number of soldiers to the British and later to the Pakistan armed forces due to which it is also known as...
. Ethnically, he belonged to Awan tribe
Awan (Pakistan)
Awan , is a South Asian Zamindar tribe, putatively of Arab origin, living predominantly in northern, central, and western parts of Punjab, Pakistan...
of Pakistan. In 1959, Akram was accepted in Pakistan Military Academy
Pakistan Military Academy
The Pakistan Military Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service military academy. It is located at Kakul near Abbottabad in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan....
and graduated from there in 1963. He gained a commissioned in 1963 as part of the Frontier Force Regiment. Akram participated in 1965 Indo-Pak September War
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...
as a Captain where he led several successful military operations against Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
. Stationed in Lahore, Akram, while commanded, a small company led several decisive operations against the Indian Armed Forces.
In 1969, Akram was promoted as Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
. In 1971, as Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
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...
, Akram fought in the war with India. In the Battle of Hilli
Battle of Hilli
The Battle of Hilli or the Battle of Bogra was a major battle fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Bangladesh Liberation War. It is generally regarded as the most pitched battle that took place in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh...
for his leadership, bravery and eventually, rendering the ultimate sacrifice, Major Akram was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider
Nishan-e-Haider
Nishan-e-Haider or Nishan-e-Hyder is the highest military decoration given by Pakistan . It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic, however, it was instituted retrospectively from Independence in 1947...
, Pakistan's highest military award.
Martyrdom and Legacy
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
of 1971, the 4th FF Regiment, which Akram commanded, was placed in the forward area of the Hilli district, in what was then 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...
. The regiment came under continuous and heavy air, artillery and armour attacks from the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
. For an entire fortnight, despite enemy superiority in both numbers and fire power, Akram and his men repulsed every attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Akram died during this battle. Major Muhammad Akram (N.H) was buried in village-Boaldar,Thana/Upozila-Hakimpur(Banglahilly),District-Dinajpur. There is a monument, Major Akram Shaheed Memorial
Major Akram Shaheed Memorial
Major Akram Shaheed Memorial Park is a park and memorial of Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed located in Jhelum. It is situated nearly at a distance of 100m from Shandar Chowk, in the center of city. Major Muhammad Akram Memorial Library is also present in this park...
, in the midst of Jhelum city. He is called hero of Hilli. Anjum Sultan Shahbaz famous writer and historian has mentioned him in the book Tareekh-e-Jhelum and Shohdai Jhelum.