PESHAWAR -UNS: The 26th death anniversary of Hawaldar Shams-ul-Islam from Customs Intelligence,will be observe at Peshawar,on today Sunday.
On November 2, 1989, Hawaldar Shams-ul-Islam of Customs Intelligence Peshawar made the ultimate sacrifice for Pakistan.
He exemplified courage and dedication, standing as a steadfast defender against smuggling—a menace to the nation’s integrity and economic stability. That fateful day, customs intelligence received reports of a large consignment of smuggled foreign goods set to be transported from Peshawar.
In response, a covert operation was quickly organized with two teams, one stationed at the GT Road Aman Garh Overhead Bridge near Nowshera and the other at a nakabandi near Pabbi, to intercept the smugglers’ convoy.
As the vehicles passed Pabbi, the team positioned there relayed the information to those at Aman Garh.
In a calculated move, Hawaldar Shams-ul-Islam and his team blocked the overhead bridge, positioning their vehicles in a strategic formation.
Realizing the trap, the smugglers—a group of six heavily armed men—opened fire. Amidst the gunfire, Hawaldar Shams-ul-Islam showed remarkable courage, engaging the smugglers without hesitation.
In this fierce exchange, he sustained critical injuries. Despite his colleagues’ efforts to rush him to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, Hawaldar Shams-ul-Islam succumbed to his injuries on the way. Two other customs officers were also severely wounded in the line of duty.
Hawaldar Shams-ul-Islam’s career was marked by unparalleled dedication, and he was no stranger to danger.
He had distinguished himself in numerous operations, each a testament to his courage:
In 1982, he intercepted two vehicles carrying substantial quantities of heroin and foreign goods. Despite being wounded when the vehicles overturned, he successfully detained the smugglers and seized 80 kilograms of charas.
In 1981, he intercepted a truck near Akora Khattak, seizing 17 kilograms of gold and apprehending the smugglers.
In 1985, he captured a smuggler posing as an army captain, seizing 600 kilograms of charas from his vehicle.
For his exceptional service, Hawaldar Shams-ul-Islam was frequently recognized with awards, including multiple double-salary bonuses—a rare honor in the department, signifying the respect he commanded for his bravery and vigilance.
His sacrifice did not go unnoticed. Hawaldar Shams-ul-Islam was laid to rest with full military honors, his body wrapped in the national flag. His colleagues from Customs Intelligence, under the supervision of Assistant Director Mr. Jahanzeb Mehmood, saluted his valor at the solemn ceremony.
Born in 1951 in Badhber village, he began his career as a sepoy in 1968, quickly rising through the ranks due to his bravery and dedication. He came from a family committed to public service, with his father, Mr. Abdul Hakeem, serving at the Governor’s House NWFP, and his brothers Abdul Aziz, Mukhtiar Ullah, Javed Akhtar also holding esteemed positions in the NWFP government.
Today, we remember Hawaldar Shams-ul-Islam not only as a customs officer but as a national hero who faced adversity head-on for the safety and honor of Pakistan.
His legacy inspires future generations of patriots, and his name is forever inscribed on the roll of the martyred, whose lives remain eternal in the spirit of this nation.
