[4][5][6][7] Sanaullah is renowned for clearing the Malakand District division of militants in less than seven months and overseeing the security of 50,000 tourists.

[5] Upon completing the 12th course of the Officers Training School in Mangla on 11 December 1983, Sanaullah was commissioned into the Pakistan Army in the 11 Baloch Regiment.

[15][13] Throughout his career, Sanaullah held various key positions, including General Staff Officer Grade II at the Chief of General Staff secretariate, Director of Military Training for Combat at the Military Training Directorate, and Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade twice.

He was further known for working tirelessly in the recovery efforts and bringing back the residents of Swat who were evacuated after the army launched an operation to clear the area from the occupation of militants.

[9] Additionally, Sanaullah is regarded as the pioneer of the Malam Jabba Snow Festival, which was the first cultural event that took place after the military operation.

[8][9] After staying two nights above 10,000ft at Malatar troop post to boost the morale of soldiers following a deadly attack a year previously which killed 18 soldiers, Sanaullah and Lt Col Touseef Ahmed were travelling to the Battalion Headquarters of 33 Baloch which Touseef was the Commanding Officer of, from the Upper Dir District along the Afghan border when their vehicle drove over a bomb at 12:30pm planted by the Pakistani Taliban killing them along with their driver Lance Naik Irfan Sattar (33 Baloch) and injuring Havildar Ilyas and DQ21 Havildar Ghaffar.

Colonel Tauseef, and Lance Naik Irfan was held on 16 September 2013 and attended by army personnel, police officers, politicians and civilians.