Haroon Islam

Lt. Col. Haroon Islam was commissioned in the 3rd Battalion of the Sindh Regiment of Pakistan Army in 1988. He joined the Pakistan Army's elite commando force SSG (Special Services Group) in 1993. He had a successful military career and according to some military sources a soldier of his calibre was bound to be a General. In recognition of his services he was awarded Chief of Army Staff Commendation Medal. During his career with the SSG, he had the honour of commanding the elite "ZARRAR Company" (The Antiterrorist unit of the SSG). [cite news|url = http://209.41.165.180/important_events/lalmasjid/pages/english_news.asp | title = Musharraf, VCOAS attend funeral of Colonel Haroon-ul-Islam | publisher = The News]

His last assignment was as a battalion commander in Operation Silence. Lt. Col. Islam died on the night of 8 July 2007 two days after having been hit by small arms fire while commanding the raid on Lal Masjid in Islamabad. Reports indicate that he was hit while planting explosives on the outer perimeter wall of the complex. The shooter was Muhammad Maqsood, guard of Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi. He was killed in the retaliatory fire by the security forces. [cite news|url = http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=8908 | title = Army commander killed in line of duty at Lal Masjid | publisher = The News]

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 had been awarded Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card.

References

External links

* [http://lahore.metblogs.com/archives/2007/07/son_of_lahore_l.phtml Lahore Metroblogs] eulogy
* [http://www.pakistanthinktank.org/default.php/p/articles/pk/316 Pakistan think tank] eulogy