He was born on 28 April 1943 in Kunjah, Gujrat District. He was commissioned in Frontier Force Regiment on 19 April 1964. In December 1971 Major Shabbir Sharif, being a company commander, 6th Frontier Force Regiment, was ordered to capture high ground near Sulemanki Headworks defended by more than a company of the Assam Regiment supported by a squadron of tanks. Major Shabbir Sharif captured that area, killing forty-three Indian soldiers and destroying four tanks. Major Shabbir Sharif and his men repulsed counter attack by two enemy battalions. On 6 December 1971, he was directly hit by a tank shell and embraced martyrdom.