ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday paid tribute to Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed on the 55th anniversary of his martyrdom, lauding his unparalleled courage, patriotism and devotion to duty.

In separate messages, the president and prime minister described Rashid Minhas Shaheed, Pakistan’s youngest recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider, as a symbol of courage, sacrifice and unwavering loyalty to the motherland.

In a statement, President Zardari said the young pilot set an exemplary standard of courage and sense of duty by laying down his life for the country.

He further said that Rashid Minhas’s supreme sacrifice remains a shining chapter in Pakistan’s national history and continues to convey a message of courage, determination and loyalty to the homeland to future generations.

The president went on to say that the nation holds the sacrifices of Rashid Minhas Shaheed, other martyrs and their families in the highest esteem, stressing, “Those who gave their lives defending the country are national heroes whose services and sacrifices will always be remembered.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a separate statement, said, “Rashid Minhas Shaheed’s great sacrifice remains an eternal example of courage, patriotism and a strong sense of duty.”

“The pilot officer sacrificed his life for the defense of the motherland and national dignity,” he said, adding that his unparalleled bravery would continue to serve as a beacon of light for the nation and the armed forces of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, said that Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of Naval Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of Air Staff, and the Armed Forces of Pakistan solemnly commemorated the 55th martyrdom anniversary of Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed.

The military’s media wing said that on August 20, 1971, Rashid Minhas displayed exceptional courage, unwavering resolve and unparalleled devotion to duty and made the ultimate sacrifice to safeguard Pakistan’s sovereignty and honor.

The ISPR said that the people and Armed Forces of Pakistan pay solemn homage to the gallant officer and reaffirm their commitment to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests.

It added that the immortal legacy of Rashid Minhas Shaheed would continue to inspire the nation and its armed forces as a timeless symbol of courage, sacrifice, patriotism and devotion to duty.

Shaheed Pilot

Pakistan president, PM pay tribute to Rashid Minhas on 55th anniversary