Fallen soldier honoured for bravery

SHABQADAR: The chief of army staff has announced Tamgha-e-Jurat for Captain Roohullah Mohmand, who laid down his life during an operation against terrorists at the Police Training Centre in Quetta on Monday night.

Gen Raheel Sharif also announced Tamgha-e-Basalat for Naib Subedar Muhammad Ali, who was wounded in the operation.

The two soldiers neutralised a suicide bomber and cornered another, “helping a large number of police recruits to escape until the terrorist detonated his vest causing the damage,” says a press release issued by the military’s media wing.

Captain Roohullah, who hailed from the Ocha Wala area of Shabqadar, was a Special Services Group (SSG) commando who had been part of key anti-terror operations carried out at Peshawar’s Army Public School (APS), Badbher Air Base, Charsadda’s Bacha Khan University and more recently at Warsak’s Christian Colony. However, Monday’s operation proved to be his last.

Captain Roohullah passed his SSC from Islamia Collegiate School and did his FSc from Government College Hayatabad. He joined Pakistan Army as a commissioned officer in 2009, against the wishes of his father, who wanted him to become a doctor.



After passing out from the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul in 2011, he joined 50 Baloch Regiment and was posted in Okara. Later, he was sent for the SSG light course and was stationed in Peshawar.

He was second-in-command during the Badaber air base attack in September last year. However, he took over the command after the death of his senior, Captain Asfandyar.

He fought in successful operations in Charsadda’s Bacha Khan University and Peshawar’s Christian Colony and was transferred to Quetta on September 28, around a month before his martyrdom.

The slain captain’s brother said Roohullah was about to be married and his mother was busy in preparation. “But today we are waiting for his dead body at our village, where thousands of people have come to offer Fateha,” Kashif told The Express Tribune.

His uncle, Ehsan Shah, said it was a very sad day for their family, but at the same time they were proud that their son has sacrificed his life while rescuing policemen. “Before going to Quetta, Roohullah had told his mother that he wanted to live like a soldier and die like a martyr,” Shah recalled.

“Today we are happy that he fulfilled his promise while fighting for his homeland, and today his funeral shows that he died for others. Everyone in Shabqadar and Mohmand is proud of his bravery and sacrifices,” Shah added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2016.