Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali Soomro Shaheed
Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali Soomro was the Commander of XII Corps of Pakistan Army also known as Quetta Corps. He was a brave hearted soldier who always put forward his life over his country and religion. Due to his hard work and ambitious approach to safeguard the country he became the first Sindhi in history of Pakistan promoted to Lieutenant General in Pakistan Army.
In 2018, when he was Major General in the army he was appointed as the Director General of Military Intelligence (MI).
On December 2021, Chief of Army Staff general Qamar Javed Bajwa formally installed Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali (Commander Quetta Corps), as Colonel Commandant of Azad Kashmir Regiment.
Last year, someone narrated this about Lt Gen Sarfraz Ali (Tamgha-e-Basalat & Bar) when he was asked about this brilliant person, he said:
“During Swat Operation, he always led us and his troops when his was our CO (Commanding Officer). Whenever there was a difficult and challenging operation, we’d see CO leading us. Leading from the front is his style and he sets personal examples in combat. He was awarded Tamgha-e-Basalat for his gallantry in counterterrorism operations. He did the same in Kargil War in 1999 when he was a Major and earned Tamgha-e-Basalat for his valour actions.”
On February 5, 2022, In his speech at the Quaid e Azam residency (Ziarat), Balochistan. On Kashmir Day Ceremony, Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali Soomro debunked the anti-Pakistan elements’ idea of destabilizing Pakistan by creating divisions among the people of Pakistan. And he also expressed Pakistan’s national Instance on the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
He worked extensively to promote peace in the Balochistan region and took measures accordingly.
Lt General Sarfraz Ali Soomro Visit to PDMA
Commander of XII Corps (Quetta Corps), Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali Soomro visited the provincial disaster management authority in Balochistan on July 9,2022. He expressed grief over the loss of lives in various incidents of floods due to heavy monsoon rains in the province.
As per Inter-Services Public Relations, Corps Commander was then given a detailed update on the flood situation in the province and relief activities being undertaken by different institutions.
The Corps Commander assured continued support of security forces to the provincial administration and PDMA in ongoing relief operations and helping the citizens. The Chief Secretary Balochistan, Home Minister, and DG PDMA appreciated the assistance of security forces to civil administration for providing maximum and timely relief for flood-affected areas and populations.
Shahadat of Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali Soomro
On 1st August 2022, he was onboard a Pakistan Army Aviation Corps Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil helicopter which was flying from Quetta to Karachi.
The personnel onboard included
- Corps Commander XII Corps, Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali
- Director General Pakistan Coast Guard, Major General Amjad
- Commander Engineers XII Corps, Brigadier Khalid
- Major Saeed (Pilot)
- Major Talha (Co-Pilot)
- Crew Chief Naik Mudassir
The news came after 11pm that the helicopter went missing for 5-6 hours and didn’t reach the destination.
Pakistan Armed forces started rescue operation to find the helicopter later it was reported that the wreckage of the helicopter is found, and all six souls onboard embraced shahadaat.
Tribute to Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali Soomro Shaheed
Author: Ali Hassan
#TeampakistanStrategicForum
