Quick Facts
Biography
Mujahida Hussain Bibi usually known as Bibi Sahiba or Shaheeda Mai Hussain Bibi registered as a regular soldier in the Pakistan Army, fighting in the 1947 war which was fought against India in Kashmir. Bibi Sahiba received Pakistan's third highest award for valor, the Sitara-e-Jurat, becoming the first female recipient of the award.
Background
Bibi Sahiba came from a Muslim Rajput family, growing up in Thorar, District Poonch, Rawalkot (Azad Kashmir). She joined the Pakistan Army, registering as a soldier in the 5th Battalion of the Azad Kashmir Regular Force, commanded by Captain Sher Khan in the Himalayan foothills.
Death
Before the Partition of India, Gulab Singh, was appointed the Maharajah of Jammu and Kashmir, and he subsequently stationed a strong force in the Poonch–Azad Kashmir region. The Muslim majority who lived in the area were alarmed by the Maharajah's policies, and in August 1947, the Poonch Rebellion broke out, subsequently leading to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. Bibi Sahiba was a part of the charging group (5 AKRF) during fighting around the Chirikot-Degear defile. She fought bravely, supplying ammunition to Pakistani soldiers fighting in the region. While undertaking this duty, she received a bullet wound and subsequently died at 0500 hours on October 7, 1947. The Pakistanis subsequently pursued the enemy all the way to Poonch and part of Kashmir, which is now called as Azad Kashmir, became independent.
Awards and decorations
Mujahida Hussain Bibi was awarded Pakistan's third highest military award (Sitara-e-Jurat) for her exemplary courage and bravery.