An Officer and a Jawan Fell Together
On 24 August 2015, Lieutenant Colonel Faisal Malik Shaheed and Sepoy Zuhaib Shaheed embraced shahadat together in the Shawal area of North Waziristan. Lt Col Faisal Malik — an officer of the 96th PMA Long Course of the Corps of Engineers, serving with 651 Sappers and Engineers and 108 Engineer Battalion — and Sepoy Zuhaib of 19 Sindh Regiment fell on the same day, in the same valley. Shahadat does not distinguish by rank. In Shawal’s mountains, they served side by side — and they are remembered side by side.
The Quiet Heroism of the Sappers
The sappers are the Army’s builders and breakers: they clear mines, breach obstacles, and open the way for everyone else. It is dangerous, unglamorous work — fought with wire-cutters and mine detectors as much as with rifles — and it takes a particular kind of officer to lead it. Lt Col Faisal Malik was that kind of officer, leading his sappers through Shawal’s mountains, where mines, improvised explosives, and difficult ground were the daily enemies. Sepoy Zuhaib of 19 Sindh Regiment stood with him.
No headlines follow the sapper who clears a road — yet every convoy that passes safely owes him its safety. That is the quiet heroism of the engineer’s war, and both men gave their lives in it.
The Road Builders
Every safe road in a conflict zone exists because sappers risked their lives to clear it. That is the engineer’s war: no headlines, no glory — only the quiet, essential work of opening the way for everyone else. Lieutenant Colonel Faisal Malik led that work in Shawal’s mountains, where mines, improvised explosives, and difficult ground were the daily enemies. Sepoy Zuhaib of 19 Sindh Regiment stood with him. On 24 August 2015, the mountains took them both. The roads they cleared remain — a gift to everyone who travels them afterwards. That is the legacy they left behind.
Officer and jawan: rank divided their duties, but shahadat united them. That is the way of the Army. The 96th Long Course remembers its course mate; the Corps of Engineers holds his name among its sappers; 19 Sindh Regiment honours its jawan. And on 24 August each year, two names are spoken as one — because they fell as one, in the same valley, on the same day, in the same cause. Ten years have passed. The gratitude has not faded, and it will not. Pakistan is grateful for both — today and always.
The Original Tribute
Today is 10th shahadat anniversary of Lt Col Faisal Malik Shaheed (96L/C, CED 42 ex 651 S&E/108 Engr Bn) and Sepoy Zuhaib Shaheed (ex 19SR).
Both embraced shahadat on August 24, 2015, in the Shawal area of North Waziristan.
Two Names Spoken as One
Their shahadat anniversary is observed every year on 24 August. Ten years have passed, and Lt Col Faisal Malik Shaheed is remembered with pride by the Corps of Engineers, the 108 Engineer Battalion, and 651 Sappers and Engineers — and by all who value the quiet, essential work of the sappers.
Officer and jawan: they fell together and are remembered together. That is the way of the Army — rank divides duties, but shahadat unites. On 24 August each year, two names are spoken as one. Every road a sapper clears is a gift to those who travel it afterwards, and that is the legacy Lt Col Faisal Malik and Sepoy Zuhaib left behind. Lieutenant Colonel Faisal Malik Shaheed and Sepoy Zuhaib Shaheed gave their lives in the mountains of North Waziristan. Pakistan is grateful for both — today and always.
 embraced shahadat on 24 August 2015 in Shawal, North Waziristan. Read more.){kind=link}