Chief of the Army Staff (Pakistan)

The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) is a statutory position in the Pakistani Army held by a general officer. As the highest-ranking officer, it is one of the most powerful positions in Pakistan.[2][3]

Chief of the Army Staff
سالارِ افواجِ پاکستان
Flag of the Chief of the Army Staff of Pakistan
Incumbent
General Asim Munir
since 29 November 2022
Ministry of Defence
Army Secretariat-I at MoD[1]
AbbreviationCOAS
Member ofJoint Chiefs of Staff Committee
National Security Council
Special Investment Facilitation Council
Reports toPrime Minister
Minister of Defence
SeatGeneral Headquarters (GHQ)
Rawalpindi Cantonment, Punjab
AppointerPrime Minister of Pakistan
Term length03 years
renewable once subject to approval of Prime Minister
PrecursorCommander-in-Chief of the Army
Formation3 March 1972 (1972-03-03)
First holderGeneral Tikka Khan
SuccessionOn basis of seniority, subjected to the decision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Unofficial namesArmy Chief
DeputyVice Chief of the Army Staff (Vacant)
Chief of the General Staff
SalaryAccording to Pakistan Military officer's Pay Grade (apex Scale)
WebsiteOfficial website

This is the senior most appointment in the Pakistan 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.[4] The Chief of Army Staff exercise its responsibility of command and control of the operational, combatant, logistics, and training commands within the army, in contrast to the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.[4]

The appointment, in principle, is constitutionally subjected to be for three years but an extension may be granted from the approval and recommendations of the Prime Minister by the President.[5] The Chief of Army Staff is based in the Army GHQ, and the current Chief of Army Staff is General Asim Munir Ahmed, serving in this capacity since 29 November 2022.[6][7]

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. Since 1972, there have been 10 four-star rank army generals to be appointed as chief of army staff by statute.[8] The Prime Minister approved the nomination and appointment of the Chief of Army Staff, with President confirming the Prime Minister's appointed choosing and nomination.[9]

The army leadership is based in the Army 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 exercise its responsibility of complete operational, training and logistics commands.: 131 [10]

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

List of chiefs of army staff
For the army heads from 1947 to 1972, see Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army.
See also: Vice Chief of the Army Staff (Pakistan) and Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Pakistan)
No. Portrait Chief of Army StaffTook officeLeft officeTime in officeUnit of Commission
01
Tikka Khan HJ, HQA, SPk
Khan, TikkaGeneral
Tikka Khan HJ, HQA, SPk
(1915–2002)		3 March 19721 March 19763 years, 364 days2 Fd Regt Arty
02
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
Zia-ul-Haq, MuhammadGeneral
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
(1924–1988)		1 March 197617 August 198812 years, 169 days13 Lancers
03
Mirza Aslam Beg NI(M), SBt
Beg, MirzaGeneral
Mirza Aslam Beg NI(M), SBt
(born 1931)		17 August 198816 August 19912 years, 364 days16 Baloch
04
Asif Nawaz Janjua NI(M), SBt
Janjua, AsifGeneral
Asif Nawaz Janjua NI(M), SBt
(1937–1993)		16 August 19918 January 1993 †1 year, 145 days5 Punjab
05
Abdul Waheed Kakar NI(M), SBt
Kakar, AbdulGeneral
Abdul Waheed Kakar NI(M), SBt
(born 1937)		11 January 199312 January 19963 years, 1 day5 FF
06
Jehangir Karamat NI(M), TBt
Karamat, JehangirGeneral
Jehangir Karamat NI(M), TBt
(born 1941)		12 January 19966 October 19982 years, 267 days13 Lancers
07
Pervez Musharraf NI(M), TBt
Musharraf, PervezGeneral
Pervez Musharraf NI(M), TBt
(1943–2023)		6 October 199829 November 20079 years, 53 days16 (SP) Medium Regt Arty
08
Ashfaq Pervez Kayani NI(M), HI(C)
Kayani, Ashfaq ParvezGeneral
Ashfaq Pervez Kayani NI(M), HI(C)
(born 1952)		29 November 200729 November 20136 years, 0 days5 Baloch
09
Raheel Sharif NI(M), HI(M)
Sharif, RaheelGeneral
Raheel Sharif NI(M), HI(M)
(born 1956)		29 November 201329 November 20163 years, 0 days6 FF
10
Qamar Javed Bajwa NI(M), HI(M)
Bajwa, QamarGeneral
Qamar Javed Bajwa NI(M), HI(M)
(born 1960)		29 November 201629 November 20226 years, 0 days16 Baloch
11
Asim Munir NI(M), HI(M)
Munir, AsimGeneral
Asim Munir NI(M), HI(M)
(born 1968)		29 November 2022Incumbent327 days23 FF

See also

References
  1. MoD, Ministry of Defence. "Organogram of MoD" (PDF). mod.gov.pk/. Ministry of Defence Press. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  2. "Pakistan Extends Term For Powerful Army Chief". RFE/RL. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  3. "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.
  4. 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.
  5. "Will retire on November 29, Kayani confirms". The Express Tribune. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  6. Dawn.com (29 November 2022). "Gen Bajwa to hand over command to Gen Munir today". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  7. "Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa to hand over command to Gen Asim Munir shortly". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  8. "The Army Chief's". www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  9. Zahra-Malik, Drazen Jorgic and Mehreen (26 November 2016). "Pakistan PM Sharif names General Bajwa as new army chief". Reuters UK. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  10. Inc, IBP (2009). Pakistan Intelligence, Security Activities and Operations Handbook - Strategic Information and Developments. Lulu.com. p. 230. ISBN 9781438737225. Retrieved 24 July 2017. {{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
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