LAHORE: Rashid Minhas, the national hero whose 50th martyrdom anniversary was celebrated in August, was remembered nationwide on the eve of Pakistan Air Force Day with tributes paid to his services.
Born on February 17, 1951, Minhas remains the youngest officer to receive Nishan-e-Haider, the nation’s highest gallantry honour and was the first recipient of the award for the Pakistan Air Force.
He received early education in Karachi and on reaching the tender age of 17, he joined Pakistan Air Force Academy in Risalpur as a Flying Cadet.
In 1971, Minhas graduated from the academy as a general duty pilot and was posted to PAF base Masroor in Karachi’s Mauripur town to hone his skills as a fighter pilot.
On August 20, as a pilot still under training, Minhas was taxing out a T-33 Jet trainer for take-off, when a pilot instructor, Flight Lieutenant Mati ur-Rahman, forced his way into the rear cockpit. In mid-air, Rahman knocked Minhas out, seized control of the aircraft and headed towards India.
With just 40 miles of Pakistan territory remaining, Minhas regained consciousness and tried to regain control of his aircraft. Failing to do so, he did the only thing within his control to prevent the aircraft from being taken to India — he forced that plane to crash just 32 miles from the Indian border, deliberately sacrificing his life for the honour of Pakistan.
Minhas was laid to rest on August 21, with full military honours. The young pilot’s entire family attended the funeral, along with senior PAF and other military personnel.
Minhas was posthumously awarded the country’s top military honour, announced by then-president Gen Yahya Khan. He became the youngest man and the only member of the air force to win the award.
