Muhammad Mahfuz Awan

Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Awan (born 25 October 1944) was a Pakistani soldier, who was awarded the Nishan-i-Haider, the highest military award of Pakistan, he was killed during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

Early life
Muhammad Mahfuz was born in Pind Malikan (now renamed Mahfuzabad in his honour) in Rawalpindi district Punjab He joined the Pakistan Army on 25 October 1962 as an infantry soldier.

Death
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, A company of the 15th Punjab Regiment was under command 43 Punjab Regiment which was deployed in the Wagah-Attari sector along the Indian border. On 17 December 1971, his company was pinned down by enemy fire and his machine-gun was destroyed by an Indian shell. Even though he was wounded in his legs by shrapnel, he moved towards an enemy bunker from which fire had caused many Pakistani deaths. There he was strangling with one of the enemy soldiers when he killed by another with a bayonet.

Awards and decorations
On 23 March 1972, Mahfooz was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider, the highest gallantry award of Pakistan.