Chief of the Army Staff (Pakistan)

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Chief of Army Staff
Flag of the Chief of the Army Staff (Pakistan).svg
Flag of the Chief of the Army Staff of Pakistan
Field Marshal Asim Munir.jpg
since 29 November 2022
Ministry of Defence
Army Secretariat-I at MoD [1]
AbbreviationCOAS
Member of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
National Security Council
Special Investment Facilitation Council
Seat General Headquarters (GHQ)
Rawalpindi Cantonment, Punjab
AppointerThe president on advice of the prime minister
Term length 5 years, renewable irrespective of age
Constituting instrumentArticle
Precursor Commander-in-Chief of the Army
Formation3 March 1972;53 years ago (1972-03-03)
First holderGeneral Tikka Khan
SuccessionOn basis of seniority, subjected to the decision of armed forces itself
Unofficial namesArmy Chief
Deputy Vice Chief of the Army Staff (Vacant)
Chief of the General Staff
SalaryAccording to Pakistan Military officer's Pay Grade (apex Scale)
Website Official website

The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) is a position in the Pakistani Army typically held by a four-star general. [2] As the highest-ranking officer, it is the most powerful position in the army. [3] [4] Due to the influence of the military in Pakistan, the position is seen as the most powerful office in the country. [5] [6] [7]

Contents

This is the senior most appointment in the army who is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee in a separate capacity, usually consulting with the Chairman joint chiefs to act as a military adviser to the Prime Minister and its civilian government in the line of defending the land borders of the country. [8] The Chief of the Army Staff exercises responsibility of command and control of the operational, combatant, logistics, and training commands within the army. [8]

The appointment, in principle, is constitutionally subjected to be for 3 years after the approval by the President on the recommendations of the Prime Minister. [9] The Chief of the Army Staff is based in the GHQ, and the current Chief is General Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah, serving in this capacity since 29 November 2022. [10] [11]

Office of the Chief of the Army Staff

The designation of the Chief of the Army Staff was created from the previous title Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army in 1972.[ citation needed ] The Prime Minister approves the nomination and appointment of the Chief of Army Staff, with President confirming the Prime Minister's appointed choosing and nomination. [12]

The army leadership is based in the GHQ whose functions are supervised by the Chief of Army Staff, assisted by the civilians from the Army Secretariat of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). [1] The Chief of Army Staff exercises the responsibility of complete operational, training and logistics commands.: 131  [13] [ self-published source? ]

Typically, the Chief of Army Staff is a four-star full general. However, two Chiefs of Army Staff— Ayub Khan and Asim Munir— were promoted to the five-star field marshal rank. [2]

There are several principle staff officers (PSO) who assist in running the operations of the Army GHQ:

List of Chiefs of the Army Staff

No.PortraitChief of Army StaffTook officeLeft officeTime in officeUnit of Commission
01
Tikka Khan.png
Khan, TikkaGeneral
Tikka Khan HJ, HQA, SPk
(1915–2002)		3 March 19721 March 19763 years, 364 days 2 Fd Regt Arty
02
General Muhammad Zia-Ul-Haq.jpg
Zia-ul-Haq, MuhammadGeneral
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
(1924–1988)		1 March 197617 August 198812 years, 169 days 13 Lancers
03
Mirza Aslam Beg.png
Beg, MirzaGeneral
Mirza Aslam Beg NI(M), SBt
(born 15 February 1928)		17 August 198816 August 19912 years, 364 days 16 Baloch
04
Asif Nawaz Janjua.png
Janjua, AsifGeneral
Asif Nawaz Janjua NI(M), SBt
(1937–1993)		16 August 19918 January 1993 †1 year, 145 days 5 Punjab
05
Abdulwaheedkakar.jpg
Kakar, AbdulGeneral
Abdul Waheed Kakar NI(M), SBt
(born 1937)		11 January 199312 January 19963 years, 1 day 5 FF / 27 AK
06
Jehangir Karamata.png
Karamat, JehangirGeneral
Jehangir Karamat NI(M), TBt
(born 1941)		12 January 1996 6 October 1998 2 years, 267 days 13 Lancers
07
No image.png
Musharraf, PervezGeneral
Pervez Musharraf NI(M), TBt
(1943–2023)		6 October 199829 November 20079 years, 53 days 16 (SP) Medium Regt Arty
08
Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.png
Kayani, Ashfaq ParvezGeneral
Ashfaq Pervez Kayani NI(M), HI(C)
(born 1952)		29 November 200729 November 20136 years 5 Baloch
09
General Raheel Sharif.jpg
Sharif, RaheelGeneral
Raheel Sharif NI(M), HI(M)
(born 1956)		29 November 201329 November 20163 years 6 FF
10
General Qamar Javed Bajwa.jpg
Bajwa, QamarGeneral
Qamar Javed Bajwa NI(M), HI(M)
(born 1960)		29 November 201629 November 20226 years 16 Baloch
11
Field Marshal Asim Munir.jpg
Munir, AsimField Marshal
Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah NI(M), HI(M)
(born 1968)		29 November 2022Incumbent2 years, 269 days 23 FF

See also


References

  1. 1 2 MoD, Ministry of Defence. "Organogram of MoD" (PDF). mod.gov.pk/. Ministry of Defence Press. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  2. 1 2 Hussain, Abid (21 May 2025). "Pakistan promotes army chief Asim Munir to field marshal: Why it matters". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 26 June 2025. How rare is the field marshal rank? Very. In Pakistan, a full general – denoted by four stars – is usually the standard rank for the army chief [...] Munir is only the second [Chief of Army Staff] – after Ayub Khan – to be promoted to field marshal.
  3. ↑ "Pakistan Extends Term For Powerful Army Chief". Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  4. ↑ "Lt Gen Raheel appointed as new COAS, Lt Gen Rashad as CJCSC". The News. 27 November 2013. Archived from the original on 1 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  5. ↑ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah; Baloch, Shah Meer (10 May 2025). "Who is Gen Asim Munir, the army chief leading Pakistan's military amid India crisis?". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  6. ↑ Leahy, Joe; Jilani, Humza (18 June 2025). "Pakistan's strongman courts US while drawing closer to China". Financial Times. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  7. ↑ Masood, Salman (5 May 2025). "Pakistan's Most Powerful Man Steps Out of the Shadows to Confront India". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  8. 1 2 Shabbir, Usman (2003). "Command and Structure control of the Pakistan Army". pakdef.org. PakDef Military Consortium. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "Will retire on November 29, Kayani confirms". The Express Tribune. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  10. ↑ Dawn.com (29 November 2022). "Gen Bajwa to hand over command to Gen Munir today". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  11. ↑ "Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa to hand over command to Gen Syed LANATI WHISKY Asim Munir shortly". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  12. ↑ Zahra-Malik, Drazen Jorgic and Mehreen (26 November 2016). "Pakistan PM Sharif names General Bajwa as new army chief". Reuters UK. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  13. ↑ Pakistan Intelligence, Security Activities and Operations Handbook - Strategic Information and Developments. Lulu.com. 2009. p. 230. ISBN   9781438737225 . Retrieved 24 July 2017.[ self-published source ]
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