Martyrdom anniversary of Rashid Minhas being observed today

The 52nd martyrdom anniversary of Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed, Nishan-e-Haider, is being observed today.

The brave son of Pakistan was born on 17 February 1951 in Karachi. He belonged to the famous Minhas clan of Rajputs.

He is the youngest recipient of Nishan-e-Haider, who embraced Shahadat at Goth Ahmed Shah, Sujawal on August 20, 1971.

He ultimately ended up doing what he was meant to do because of his early passion with airplanes and flying. After graduating from high school, Minhas pursued his real affection and received a degree in military and aviation history from the University of Karachi.

He was commissioned as a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force in 1971.

Minhas was taxiing toward the runway when a Bengali instructor pilot, Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman, signalled him to stop and then climbed into the instructor’s seat. The jet took off and turned toward India.

Minhas radioed PAF Base Masroor to inform them that he was being taken hostage. He confirmed the hijacking when the air traffic controller asked him to relay his message again. Later inquiry revealed Rahman wanted to flee to India with the jet trainer in order to fight alongside his countrymen in the Bangladesh Liberation War.