He Led His Men Into the Night at Zhob
On the night of 8 October 2023, Major Ali Raza Shaheed led his men into an operation against terrorists in Zhob, Balochistan. An officer of the 132nd PMA Long Course, commissioned into 12 Punjab Regiment and serving with the 1 Commando Battalion of the Special Services Group, he was where SSG officers are always found: at the very tip of the spear. In the darkness of that operation, Major Ali Raza and Havildar Nisar Shaheed embraced martyrdom. The SSG does not send its commandos into easy fights — every mission is a calculated risk, and every officer who takes on such missions has accepted that his next operation could be his last. Major Ali Raza accepted it.
Officer and Havildar, Together to the End
An officer and his havildar, falling together: it is the oldest story in soldiering, and the truest. The bond between a commando officer and his men is forged in training that breaks most who attempt it — and it holds until the very end. To fall beside one’s officer is the havildar’s honour, and the officer’s trust fulfilled. Havildar Nisar and Major Ali Raza are remembered together because they fell together, as soldiers have since soldiering began.
The 132nd PMA Long Course, his course, the 12 Punjab Regiment, his parent unit, and the 1 Commando Battalion, the formation he served with at the end — all three hold his name among their fallen.
The Tip of the Spear
The SSG does not send its commandos into easy fights. Every mission is a calculated risk, and every officer who takes one on has accepted that his next operation could be his last. On the night of 8 October 2023, Major Ali Raza led his men into Zhob knowing exactly that — and he went anyway, at the very tip of the spear, where SSG officers are always found. That is what the brotherhood demands. That is what he gave.
He did not go alone, and he did not fall alone. Havildar Nisar fell beside his officer that night — the oldest story in soldiering, and the truest: the bond between a commando officer and his men, forged in training that breaks most who attempt it, holding until the very end. He went into the night at Zhob and did not return, so that others might sleep in peace. Three years on, the SSG still takes on the hardest missions, and Major Ali Raza’s name is spoken among the commandos as an example of what the corps demands: to know the price, and to pay it without hesitation. Two names, one operation, one sacrifice — honoured every 8 October.
The Original Tribute
Today is 3rd shahadat anniversary of Maj Ali Raza Shaheed (132L/C ex 12PR/1CDO Bn SSG) and Hav Nisar Shaheed.
On 08/09Oct23, Maj Ali and Hav Nisar embraced martyrdom in an operation against the terrorists in Zhob, Balochistan.
Three Years On, the Commandos Still Speak His Name
Their shahadat anniversary is observed every year on 8 October. Three years have passed since that night in Zhob, and Major Ali Raza Shaheed is remembered as the pride of the nation and a son of the SSG — the elite brotherhood that takes on Pakistan’s hardest missions.
The SSG still takes on the hardest missions, and its commandos still lead from the front. Major Ali Raza’s name is spoken among them as an example of what the SSG demands — to know the price and pay it without hesitation. He went into the night at Zhob and did not return, so that others might sleep in peace. Two names, one operation, one sacrifice — honoured by the SSG and by Pakistan, every 8 October.
 embraced shahadat on 8 October 2023 in an operation in Zhob, Balochistan. Read his tribute.){kind=link}