The Pakistan Army on Sunday paid a glowing tribute to Naik Saif Ali Janjua Shaheed on his 72nd martyrdom anniversary.
In a tweet on Sunday evening, the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), wrote: “Gallantry of Naik Saif Ali Janjua Shaheed, NH, will forever remind us of our commitment to #Kashmir. His immortal action is glowing precedent for those struggling to restore the sanctity of land that he laid his life for. Nation venerates his sacrifice.”
NAIK SAIF ALI JANJUA - 72nd MARTYRDOM ANNIVERSARY
1. Brief Bio.
a. Birth Place: Tehsil Nakial, Kotli (AJ&K)
b. Martyrdom place: Pir Kalewa, Mendhar Sector, IIOJ & K
c. Age at Martyrdom: 25
e. Unit: 18 Azad Kashmir Regt
2. Pre Independence – Mil Svc
a. Saif Ali Janjua joined the Royal Corps of the British Indian Army as a Sepoy on March 18, 1941
b. He served overseas for four years during WW II.
c. On termination of war, his unit sailed back to the subcontinent and remained stationed at Jullundur and Lahore.
3. After Partition Mil Svc
a. After completing his service in the British Indian Army in1947, he came back to his native town
b. He got the support of Sardar Fateh Muhammad Karailvi.
c. On January 1, 1948, Haidari Force was raised to battalion strength and named as ―Sher-e-Riasti Battalion‖, under the command of Lt Col Muhammad Sher Khan.
d. Later on during the reorganization phase of Azad Kashmir Regular Forces (AKRF), ―Sher-e-Riasti Battalion‖, was designated as 18 Azad Kashmir Battalion.
e. Saif Ali Janjua showed exceptional leadership qualities, and was promoted as a Naik, well before his time and appointed as Platoon Commander an appointment normally given to officers or Junior Commissioned Officers.
f. While acting as a Platoon Commander, he set personal examples in gallantry and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy
g. On his unique selfless conduct and devotion to duty, Saif Ali Janjua was awarded Hilal-i-Kashmir (posthumous), the highest operational award of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, on March 14, 1949.
h. The Government of Pakistan, on November 30, 1995, notified the equivalence of Hilal-i-Kashmir with Nishan-i-Haider.
i. Naik Saif Ali Janjua Shaheed became the 9th recipient of Nishan-i-Haider.
4. Act In War
a. Indian forces after landing in Srinagar on October 27, 1947, advanced with the intention to capture the whole of Kashmir.
b. Naik Saif Sher-e-Riasti Battalion ‖ (18AK) of Pakistan Army defended the areas with blood
c. During this period of reorganization of freedom fighters, a major Indian offensive supported by armour, artillery, and airforce to establish link-up with Poonch was gaining momentum in Mendhar Sector.
d. A platoon of ―Sher-e-Riasti Battalion‖, commanded by Naik Saif Ali Janjua, was deployed on the dominant Pir Kalewa feature.
e. The Indians attacked with 5 and 19 Brigade at Pir Kalewa on October 20, 1948; but these attempts were repulsed every time.
g. On the night of October 25-26, 1948, Indian attack by 5 Brigade Group with armour in support and occasional airstrikes commenced all along the front was held by ―Sher-e- Riasti Battalion‖.
i. Naik Saif ordered his platoon to engage the assaulting troops with all available firepower. He led his men gallantly and continued shouting slogans of encouragement while also passing instructions. Meanwhile, a complete section had suffered heavy casualties, but Naik Saif single-handedly held the position until the arrival of reinforcements.
j. He himself took over the Bren gun and started effectively engaging advancing enemy soldiers from an open place.
k. Four Indian attempt against Pir Kalewa post had also been repulsed
l. Naik Saif had suffered a huge loss of blood from his wounds; however, he dragged himself around to collect ammunition from the dead and wounded, and distributed it personally to the surviving soldiers.
m. Naik Saif was reorganizing and repositioning his Surviving men to face another fresh wave of enemy assault, which was preceded by even heavier and intense artillery shelling, when an artillery shell hit him fatally.
n. The Indians could not succeed to capture the post despite heavy losses due to brave Naik Saif Ali . Due to the severe injuries, he embraced martyrdom on October 26, 1948.
5. Family Details:
a. Father: Malik Muhammad Masoom Khan
b. Wife: Zohra Bibi
c. Children: Muhammad Siddique, Muhammad Raffique and Tasweer Begum
d. Grandson: Muhammad Akseer