Pakistan remembers Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed (Nishan-e-Haider) on his birthday on February 17th Wednesday (today).
Rashid Minhas – a name that echoes with courage, determination, sacrifice and unmatched patriotism, and one that every Pakistani is well aware of. A national hero and an icon of self-less devotion to the motherland that is associated with Pakistan’s armed forces, the story of Rashid Minhas Shaheed is a testament to the cost that our soldiers pay for the security and preservation of ideological and territorial boundaries of the country.
Born to a Rajput family, Rashid Minhas was captivated by aviation history and technology ever since he was a child and was a collecter himself with numerous models of aircrafts in his inventory.
He joined PAF School in Lower Topa in 1968 – an all-boys military boarding school situated at PAF Base in Patriata, Murree; followed by officer candidate school (OCS). He finally made it to PAF Academy in 1969 where his professional career as an air force cadet.
A Tale Of ‘Unmatched’ Courage And Sacrifice
Rashid Minhas began his training as a PAF pilot after gaining commission in PAF on March 13th 1971 as part of the 51st GDP course.
On August 20th 1971, Rashid Minhas was on his second solo flight in a T-33 trainer and was taxiing for take-off at PAF Base Masroor in Karachi. As he approached towards the runway, Flight Lt. Matiur Rahman – a Bengali instructor pilot, signaled him to stop.
Being a junior pilot, Rashid Minhas obliged, and Flt Lt. Matiur Rahman boarded the plane as the plane was a ‘two-seater’ jet trainer.
During the flight, Flt Lt. Matiur Rahman tried directing the plane towards Indian border – an effort that was duly and forcefully resisted by Rashid Minhas.
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A scuffle followed, as Rashid Minhas vigorously resisted his senior officer as the latter intended to defect to India along with the jet trainer.
Minhas managed to send a distress signal to PAF Base Masroor apprising the officials on the ground regarding the attempted hijacking while simultaneously trying to direct the plane away from Indian border.
In an attempt to negate Flt Lt. Matiur Rahman’s defection to India, Rashid Minhas intentionally damaged aircraft’s controls forcing the plane to crash 32 miles (51 km) from the Indian border near Thatta.
The crash resulted in martyrdom of Rashid Minhas, whereas Flt Lt. Matiur Rahman was also killed.
Rashid Minhas – A Legacy That Lives On
Rashid Minhas’s legacy lives on as he was awarded with Pakistan’s highest military award Nishan-e-Haider (NH) for his self-less courage and ultimate sacrifice.
Rashid Minhas Shaheed remains the only PAF member to receive Nishan-e-Haider.
Pakistan Television (PTV), produced a short telefilm titled ‘Nishan-e-Haider Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed’ to pay homage to the young officer who laid his life for the motherland.
The 90-minute play showcases Rashid Minhas’s early life, his training as a PAF cadet and pilot with critical depiction of how young men and women in our armed forces are driven by an unmatched sense of patriotism and love for the motherland.
