 Muhammad Mahfuz was born in Pind Malikan (now renamed Mahfuzabad in his honour) in Rawalpindi District, Punjab.He joined the Pakistan Army on 25 October 1962 as an infantry soldier.During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, A company of the 15th Punjab Regiment was under command 43 Punjab Regiment which was deployed in the Wagah-Attari sector along the Indian border.