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Muniruddin Ahmed (fighter pilot)

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Squadron Leader

Muniruddin Ahmed

SJ
Squadron Leader Muniruddin Ahmed
Allegiance Pakistan
Branch Pakistan Air Force
Years of service1955 — 1965
Rank Squadron Leader
Service numberPAK/5030
UnitNo. 14 Squadron PAF
CommandsNo. 19 Squadron PAF
No. 11 Squadron PAF
No. 5 Squadron PAF
Battles / warsIndo-Pakistani War of 1965 †
Awards Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage) Award
Alma materPakistan Air Force Academy

Squadron Leader Muniruddin Ahmed SJ (27 September 1927 – 11 September 1965) was a Pakistani fighter pilot and a war hero in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

He was posthumously awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat for his gallantry during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, particularly for leading combat missions and he was hit during the successful strike on the Amritsar radar station.[1][2][3]

Early life

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Muniruddin was born at Gurdaspur, India on 27 September 1927 in an Ahmadiyya family. His father, Hazrat Dr Khalifa Rashiduddinra was a prominent Ahmadiyaa leader. He completed his education from PAF College Risalpur and later joined the Pakistan Air Force.[4][5][6]

Military Career

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Munir was commissioned in the 26 GD(P) on 22 Dec 1955 in No. 14 Squadron PAF. After getting commissioned, he served at various fighter squadrons of PAF, which includes the No. 19 Squadron PAF, No. 11 Squadron PAF and No. 5 Squadron PAF. Within a short time, Munir became an exceptional fighter pilot. [7]
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Munir was assigned at PAF Base Sargodha, one of the major operational bases of Pakistan. Munir had actively taken part in numerous operations in Northern Punjab. On 10th September, he had shot down an IAF Gnat.[8]

On 11 September 1965, Munir had voluntarily joined an operation to destroy a radar station at Amritsar. Under the leadership of the then, Wing Commander Anwar Shamim, Munir had taken off along with the then Flight Lieutenant Cecil Chaudhry and Flight Lieutenant Imtiaz Ahmed Bhatti.[9] Despite being under heavy fire, he had completed his mission. While doing so, he was hit by an anti aircraft fire. Shamim tried to find his body and aircraft, but none of them were found. He was later declared missing in action. For his gallantry actions, the Government of Pakistan awarded him with Sitara-e-Jurat, third highest gallantry award.[10][11][12][13]

Legacy

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Munir has been paid tribute by the Pakistan Air Force and Government of Pakistan. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif also acknowledged his contributions in the war.[14][15] A house at PAF College Sargodha, one of the educational institutions of Pakistan Air Force has been named after him.[16]

Sitara-e-Jurat citation

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Munir's Sitara-e-Jurat citation read as follows :

CITATION

Squadron Leader Munir-ud-Din Ahmed

14 SQUADRON PAK/5030

During the war, a high-powered heavily defended radar station near Amritsar was attacked repeatedly by the PAF fighters. In all these missions, Squadron Leader Munir unhesitatingly volunteered to fly and without regard for his personal safety exposed himself to intense ack ack fire for long periods in attempts to locate and destroy the target. In the final successful attack on September 11, he made the supreme sacrifice when his aircraft was fatally hit. Before his last sortie, Munir flew eight combat missions and shot down an IAF Gnat on September 10. For displaying courage and determination in the face of heavy odds and beyond the call of duty, Squadron Leader Munir-ud-Din Ahmed is awarded Sitara-i-Jurat.[17]

Awards and decorations

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Sitara-e-Jurat

(Star of Courage)

1965 War

Posthumous

Tamgha-e-Diffa

(General Service Medal)

1965 War Clasp

Posthumous

Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War

(War Star 1965)

Posthumous

Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War

(War Medal 1965)

Posthumous

Tamgha-e-Jamhuria

(Republic Commemoration Medal)

1956

References

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  1. ^ "PAF pays tribute to 1965 War Hero Squadron Leader Muniruddin Ahmed Shaheed". Radio Pakistan. 24 May 2023. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  2. ^ "پاک فضائیہ کا 1965 کی جنگ کے ہیرو سکواڈرن لیڈر منیر الدین احمد (شہید)کو خراج عقیدت". Nawaiwaqt (in Urdu). 24 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  3. ^ "PAF Martyred of 1965 & 1971 War (Profile of Squadron Leader Munir-ud-Din Ahmed)". Archived from the original on 15 May 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  4. ^ Hakam, Al (16 July 2021). "Forbidden history: Monumental services of Ahmadis in the Pakistani Armed Forces". www.alhakam.org. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  5. ^ Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat (23rd ed.). Pakistan. pp. 97–106. ISBN 9781848801356.
  6. ^ Ahmadiyyafactcheckblog (23 February 2020). "Ahmadi's continue to serve in the Pakistani military--2020". ahmadiyyafactcheckblog. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  7. ^ admin (5 September 2017). "Squadron Leader Muniruddin Ahmed (Shaheed), Sitara-e-Jurrat". Daily Lead Pakistan. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  8. ^ "PAF pays tribute to Muniruddin Ahmed Shaheed". The Nation newspaper. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Sqn Ldr Muniruddin Ahmed (Shaheed), SJ (Profile)". The News International newspaper. 5 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 May 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  10. ^ "The Pakistan Air Force during the Indo Pakistan War-1965". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  11. ^ "The spirit of Indo-Pakistan war 1965". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  12. ^ Abbas, Tauqeer (6 September 2022). "The Pakistan Air Force during the Indo Pakistan War-1965 – Pakistan Shia News Agency". Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  13. ^ "Services of Ahmadi Muslims for Pakistan | Persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community". Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  14. ^ "Nation indebted to PAF warriors for great sacrifices: PM". Daily Times newspaper. Associated Press of Pakistan. 8 September 2022. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  15. ^ "PAF pays tribute to 1965 War Hero Squadron Leader Muniruddin Ahmed Shaheed". Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 24 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Munir House". pafcollegesargodha.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  17. ^ "CITATION OF PAF SHAHEEDS - 1". pakfizaia.tripod.com. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
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