Haroon Islam

Last updated
Lieutenant Colonel

Haroon Islam
Born(1967-10-14)14 October 1967
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Died8 July 2007(2007-07-08) (aged 39)
Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICL)
AllegianceFlag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan
BranchFlag of the Pakistani Army.svg  Pakistan Army
Years of service1988–2007
Rank OF-4 Pakistan Army.svg Lieutenant Colonel
Service number PA-27053
Unit 3rd Sindh Regiment
Commands Zarrar Anti Terrorist Battalion
Battles / wars
Awards
Alma mater Pakistan Military Academy
Command and Staff College, Quetta

Haroon Islam was an officer of the Pakistan Army who served as in Pakistan Army's Special Service Group and was killed in action during Operation Silence. [1]

Contents

He was a commanding officer of Operation Silence and was killed in fierce fighting which took place inside the Red Mosque in Islambad. [2]

On March 23, 2008, he was posthumously awarded the second highest civilian award, Hilal-e-Shujaat (Crescent of Bravery) by the President of Pakistan. [3]

Biography

Haroon was born in a family of military background.[ citation needed ] His father himself was a deputy commissioner who had also participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.[ citation needed ] His elder brother is an Assistant Director in the FIA while another brother, Major Ehtisham-ul-Islam, is a retired Army Officer. [4] He joined and gained commission in the 3rd Battalion of the Sindh Regiment of Pakistan Army in 1988. He was a graduate of Command and Staff College, Quetta in 1993 and joined Pakistan Army's elite special forces branch SSG (Special Service Group) in 1993. He had a successful military career. In 1998, his unit was deployed in Kargil, and had participated in Kargil War.

In recognition of his services, he was awarded Chief of Army Staff Commendation Medal. During his career with the SSG, he commanded the elite Zarrar Company (The anti-terrorist unit of the SSG). [5]

Free fall accident

Previously in his life, he survived a potentially fatal free fall accident when his parachute entangled with another. He not only survived the accident but became fit enough to rejoin the SSG. He was also a graduate of the prestigious Command and Staff College, Quetta. Because of his meritorious services, he was awarded Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card. [6]

Death

In July 2007, the conflict between Lal Masjid and the Government of Pakistan deepened and the government decided to launch a military operation against the fundamentalist militia. [7] the Pakistan Army assigned the 7th Commando Zarrar Battalion of SSG led by Haroon to takeover the mosque. [8]

The operation was launched on July 3, 2007 and Haroon was killed on the midnight of 8 July 2007, while entering the mosque. [9] reports indicate that he was hit while planting explosives on the outer perimeter wall of the complex. [10]

In mourning

On behalf of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the federal cabinet, a two-member delegation consisting of Additional Secretary (Cabinet Division) Saeed Ahmad Khan and Joint Secretary (Cabinet Committee) Muhammad Zahid Khan visited his widow. [11]

On July 08, 2007, President and Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf, Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ahsan Saleem Hyat and a large number of other senior civil and military officers and relatives of the martyred officer had attended the Namaz-e-Janaza held at Chaklala, Pakistan. [12]

The Pakistan Army presented Guard of honour to Haroon. Later, his body was sent to Lahore for burial. He is buried in Military cemetery graveyard, Lahore. [13]

References

  1. ↑ "Pakistani colonel killed in clash". BBC. 8 July 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
  2. ↑ "Pakistani colonel killed in clash". BBC. 8 July 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
  3. ↑ "President confers civil, military awards: See HILAL-I-SHUJA'AT". The News International. March 24, 2008. Archived from the original (Webcache) on March 27, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Funeral of Army officer died in Lal Masjid Operation offered, Musharraf attended". Pakistan Tribute. July 9, 2007.
  5. ↑ "Musharraf, VCOAS attend funeral of Colonel Haroon-ul-Islam". The News.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. ↑ Funeral of Army officer died in Lal Masjid Operation offered, Musharraf attended
  7. ↑ Raza, Syed; Munawar Azeem (4 July 2007). "Fierce gunbattles rock capital". Dawn. Archived from the original on 5 January 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
  8. ↑ "Pakistan mosque clashes intensify". Al Jazeera English. 8 July 2007. Archived from the original on 10 July 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
  9. ↑ Walsh, Declan (2007-07-09). "Elite army commander killed in mosque siege". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077.
  10. ↑ "Army commander killed in line of duty at Lal Masjid". The News.
  11. ↑ "Daily Times – Leading News Resource of Pakistan". Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  12. ↑ "General Musharraf, VCOAS attend funeral of Colonel Haroon-ul-Islam". July 8, 2007. Archived from the original (Webcache) on August 6, 2007.
  13. ↑ "Body of Lt-Col Haroon arrives in Lahore". The News International. July 9, 2007. Archived from the original (Webcache) on July 9, 2007.
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