Lt. Sami Ul Haq (SHAHEED)

Sitara-e-Basalat
A Wish Granted
Lt. Sami Ul Haq was born on May26, 1976. He completed his education at Rawalpindi and achieved his childhood aim of serving in Pakistan Army, in May 1996 when he joined PMA Kakul for 97 Long Course. During his stay at the Academy, he excelled in all the departments of his training. He was appointment holder of Battalion Sergeant Major of 2nd Pak Battalion. He got his commission on October 11,1998, and joined his father’s Regiment 24 Baloch, deployed at Chamb sector.

In December 1999, he completed Basic Young Officers Course at the School of Infantry and Tactics, Quetta. After spending one month at home, he returned to his post (Akbar Post) on January 19, 2000.
Akbar Post is a long established, small and isolated observation post, very near to the line of control. On January 22, at 0320 hrs in the wake of unprovoked intense mortar fire for sometime, the Indians attacked this post from three sides. The enemy crossed the LOC and blocked the rear route to the post, thus trapping the 15 Pakistani troops.
Heavy firing from the enemy completely damaged the bunkers and the post. However, Lt. Sami and his soldiers repulsed this first attack and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. The second wave of Indian attack followed immediately. The Lieutenant and his soldiers fought gallantly. They were left with no ammunition by now: they were facing Indian onslaught barehanded.
Suddenly, Lt. Sami got hold of an Indian Captain and throttled him to death. Several Indian soldiers tried to free their Captain from the Lieutenant’s hold; despite ruthless ‘efforts’ they could not succeed in doing so. The frustrated enemy shot Sami in the forehead. Six other Pakistani Soldiers embraced Shahadat with Lt. Sami and the rest were wounded.
In line with its nefarious designs for propaganda, while fleeing, along with their own dead, the enemy took Lt. Sami’s body and of four other Pakistani soldiers, with it.


An agonizing wait for the family had begun. Major (retd) Mehboob, a soldier himself, said these were the hardest and longest days of his life, wondering whether his son’s body will be returned or not? In what condition it will be?
Finally all five bodies were returned on January 27 to the Pakistani authorities. Lt. Sami’s body arrived at the same house, which he had left nine days before, hale and hearty. The house was full of people and roses. Sami’s coffin was open, his blood stained uniform was covered with a white sheet, a single bullet hole on his forehead was also covered with a white piece of cloth.
In April 1996, when Sami’s father was leaving for Hajj and he asked him what he wished him to pray for – Sami wished for Shahadat.