Rashid Minhas | |
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Born | Karachi, Sindh, Dominion of Pakistan | 17 February 1951
Died | 20 August 1971 Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan (now Sujawal District) | (aged 20)
Buried | Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/branch | ![]() |
Years of service | 13 March 1971 - 20 August 1971 |
Rank | Pilot officer |
Service number | Pak/5602 |
Unit | No. 2 Squadron |
Battles/wars | Bangladesh Liberation War † |
Awards | ![]() |
Alma mater | St Patrick's High School, Karachi |
Website | "Rashid Minhas (Shaheed)". |
Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas NH (Urdu: راشد منہاس) was a Pakistani pilot in the Pakistan Air Force. Minhas was the only PAF officer to receive the highest valour award, the Nishan-e-Haider. He was also the youngest person and the shortest-serving officer to have received this award. During a routine training mission in August 1971, Minhas attempted to gain control of his jet trainer when his superior officer Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman hijacked the plane in an attempt to defect to India to join the Liberation war of Bangladesh but crashed near the Thatta District, Sindh in Pakistan.[1]