Lieutenant Sami Ul Haq was born on May 26, 1976. He joined Pakistan Military Academy in May 1996. He was commissioned in 24 Baloch Regiment in 1998 and deployed at Chamb sector.
On January 22, 2000 at 0320 hrs in the wake of unprovoked intense mortar fire for sometime, the Indians attacked his post from three sides. The enemy violated 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. On his act of bravery he was awarded Sitara-e-Basalat.
