PAF contingent lays floral wreath at grave of Rashid Minhas Shaheed

KARACHI (92 News) – Commander Southern Air Muhammad Abbas Ghuman laid floral wreath at the grave of Nishan-e-Haider Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed in Karachi this morning. Air Officer Commanding Southern Air Command (AOC SAC) Ghulam Abbas Ghumman and Anjum Minhas – brother of Rashid Minhas – laid floral wreath at the martyr’s tomb and prayed for him. They also offered Fateha for the Shaheed. On the occasion of Air Force Day on September 7, a smartly turned contingent of Pakistan Air Force saluted and presented guard of honor at the mausoleum of Rashid Minhas – Pakistan’s only fighter pilot who was awarded the highest decoration of Nishan-e-Haider. In his message, Commander Sothern Air Abbas Ghuman said that September 7 reminds us sacrifices of martyrs and Ghazis. He said Pakistan Air Force gave a befitting response to enemy on February 27 last year. “The armed forces are always ready to retaliate against any aggression. Pakistan’s history is full of such examples of sacrificing lives for the motherland. The PAF made the nation proud,” he added. Rashid Minhas – only 20 – was decorated with Nishan-e-Haider for not letting his defector instructor, Flt Lt Matiur Rahman, fly to India with state secrets and an in-service air force official. He chose to point aircraft’s nose to ground and destroy it, rendering sacrifice of his life for the sake of sanctity and integrity of his country in 1971 war against India. Coup leader, President General Yahya Khan announced posthumous decoration for the martyr.