Born in Hoshiarpur in 1914, Major Tufail Muhammad was commissioned in 1943 into the 16 Punjab Regiment. After a distinguished career, which included several instructional and command appointments in his own battalion and also in the Civil Armed Forces, he was posted to the East Pakistan Rifles in 1958 as a Company Commander.

Early August, 1958 he was assigned the task of clearing some Indian troops entrenched in Lakshmipur area. He executed a faultless night march and in the small hours of August 7 encircled the Indian post. Leading his men to about 15 yards of the enemy, he led the assault party from the rear. When the Indians opened machine-gun fire, Major Tufail was the first to be hit. Bleeding profusely, he lobbed a grenade and silenced the machine-gun. With the flame of his life gradually fading away, he continued to direct the operation. When another enemy machine-gun opened fire, killing his second-in-command, Major Tufail destroyed that gun too with a well-aimed grenade. During the hand-to-hand encounter that followed, he noticed the Commander of the Indian post moving stealthily to attack one of his men. Though mortally wounded, Major Tufail crawled towards the enemy commander. He stretched out one of his legs and as the enemy stumbled he hit him in the face with his steel helmet, saving his comrade. He continued to lead his troops till the Indians were driven out, leaving four of their dead and three prisoners behind. Major Tufail succumbed to his wounds the same day. Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed was awarded Pakistan's highest gallantry award of Nishan-e-Haider.