Lalak Jan

Havaldar Lalak Jan (Urdu: حولدار لالک جان‎) (April 1967 - July 1999) was a soldier of Pakistan Army belonging to Northern Light Infantry regiment. He was killed in action during the Kargil war. For his bravery, he was awarded with Pakistan's highest military gallantry award, Nishan-e-Haider. Lalak Jan hailed from Yasin valley, village name Hundur, in the Gilgit-Baltistan]] province of Pakistan.

Lalak Jan Nishan-e-Haider
Native name	حولدار لالک جان
Born	1 April 1967 Yasin Valley, Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan
Died	7 July 1999 (aged 32)
Buried	Hundur, Yasin Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan
Allegiance	Pakistan
Service/branch	Pakistan Army
Years of service	1984–1999
Rank	Havildar
Unit	12 Northern Light Infantry
Battles/wars	Kargil War
Awards	Nishan-e-Haider

Early life

Lalak Jan was born on 1 April 1967 at Yasin, in the Gupis-Yasin District, of Gilgit-Baltistan.[1][2] After completing his education, he joined the Pakistan Army on 10 December 1984 and eventually rose up to rank of Havaldar.[2]

Death

Lalak Jan was serving in the Northern Light Infantry (NLI) when the Kargil War started. He volunteered to be deployed on the front lines in May 1999. In late 1999, his post came under a number of attacks from the Indian Army but he successfully managed to repulse them. He was killed on 7 July 1999 after he sustained serious injuries from the heavy mortar pounding on his positions by the Indian Army.[3][4]

According to the official statement:

He was serving in Northern Light Infantry Regiment when skirmishes broke out in Kargil in 1999. Havildar Lalak Jan of the Northern Light Infantry Regiment fought from the forefront to thwart heavy Indian attacks. He volunteered himself to be deployed on the front positions located at the jagged peak in May 1999. Havildar Lalak Jan repulsed back many aggressive ventures by the enemy and imposed colossal losses on them. On 7 July 1999, Havildar Lalak Jan sustained serious injuries as enemies pounded the area with heavy mortar shells. But despite being injured, he retained his position and frustrated the Indian assault. Due to severe injuries he embraced martyrdom and was graciously awarded The Nishan-e-Haider for his bravery and his will to attack and defeat the enemy at all costs.[3]

Buried

The place where Lalak Jan was buried.

Lalak Jan was buried in his native town in Hundur, Yasin Valley, in the Gupis-Yasin District, of Gilgit-Baltistan. Every year officials from Pakistani Government, Pakistan Armed Forces and other locals visit the tomb to offer prayer and lay floral wealth.[5]

Awards and Decorations

The Government of Pakistan awarded him Nishan-e-Haider, the country’s highest award for extraordinary gallantry.[6]

References

1. "Hav. Lalak (Nishan-e-Haider) being remembered". Samaa Tv. 7 July 2011.
2. "Kargil war hero Lalak Jan being remembered". Samaa Tv. 7 July 2017.
3. "Havildar Lalak Jan". www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
4. Arshad, Ambreen (5 September 2015). "They rest in honoured glory". Retrieved 14 March 2018.
5. "Martyrdom anniversary of Nishan-i-Haider Haveldar Lalak Jan being observed today". Dunya News. 7 July 2019.
6. "Nishan-e-Haider: The mark of the lion - The Express Tribune". 6 September 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2018.

Nishan-e-Haider Award Recipient
Lalak Jan was recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider Award
Date	1999
Country	Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Presented by	Muhammad Rafiq Tarar