Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee#Appointment preferences

{{Short description|Highest principal staff officer of the Pakistan Armed Forces}}

{{Infobox official post

| post = Chairman

| body = the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

| native_name = {{Nastaliq|صدرنشین مجلسِ مشترکہَ رؤسائے افواجِ پاکستان}}

| insignia =

| insigniasize =

| insigniacaption =

| flag = Flag of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.svg

| flagsize =

| flagborder = yes

| flagcaption = Flag of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

| image = General-sahir-shamshad-mirza.jpg

| imagesize =

| alt =

| incumbent = General Sahir Shamshad Mirza

| acting =

| incumbentsince = 27 November 2022

| department = {{flagicon image|Armed Forces of Pakistan Flag.svg|size=23px}} Pakistan Armed Forces

| style =

| type = Four-star officer

| status = Leader of the Armed Forces, Highest ranking military officer

| abbreviation = CJCSC

| member_of = *Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

| reports_to = Minister of Defence

| residence = Islamabad, Pakistan

| seat = Joint Staff Headquarters
Rawalpindi, Pakistan

| nominator = Prime Minister of Pakistan

| appointer = President of Pakistan

| appointer_qualified =

| termlength = 3 years

| termlength_qualified = Renewable once

| constituting_instrument =

| precursor = Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army, Navy and Air Force

| formation = {{Start date and years ago|df=y|1976|3|1}}

| first = General Muhammad Sharif

| last =

| abolished =

| succession =

| unofficial_names =

| deputy = Vice Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

| salary =

| website =

}}

The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC){{efn|({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|صدرنشین مجلسِ مشترکہَ رؤسائے افواجِ پاکستان}}}})}} is, in principle, the highest-ranking and senior most uniformed military officer, typically at four-star rank, in the Pakistan Armed Forces who serves as a principal staff officer (PSO) and a chief military adviser to the civilian government led by elected prime minister of Pakistan and the National Security Council. The role of advisement is also extended to the elected members in the bicameral parliament and the ministry of Defence.{{cite book|last1=Cheema|first1=Pervaiz Iqbal|title=The armed forces of Pakistan|date=2002|publisher=New York University Press|location=New York|isbn=9780814716335|pages=200|edition=1st|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cw_gduyRv5oC|access-date=30 December 2017|language=en}}{{rp|42}} The chairman leads the meetings and coordinates the combined efforts of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC), comprising the chairman, the chief of the Army Staff and chief of the Air Staff and the chief of the Naval Staff, commandant of marines, director general Coast Guards and Strategic Plans Division, and commanders of the service branches in the Civil Armed Forces and the National Guard.{{cite book|last1=Rizvi|first1=H.|author-link1=Hasan Askari Rizvi|title=Military, State and Society in Pakistan|date=2000|publisher=Springer|location=New York, U.S.|isbn=9780230599048|pages=295|edition=1st|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZwGIDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA145|access-date=30 December 2017|language=en-us|format=googlebooks|chapter={{small|Civilian interlude}}}}{{rp|145–146}}

Even as the principal staff officer (PSO), the chairman does not have any authority over the command of the combatant forces.{{cite book|last1=Rizvi|first1=H.|author-link1=Hasan Askari Rizvi|title=Military, State and Society in Pakistan|date=2000|publisher=Springer|location=U.K.|isbn=9780230599048|pages=300|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZwGIDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA145|access-date=2 January 2018|language=en-pk|format=google books|chapter={{small|Civilian Interlude}}}}{{rp|145}} The individual service chiefs are solely responsible for the coordination and logistics of the armed and combatant forces. Due to this constraint, the chiefs of army, navy and air force are much in command and control of their respected commands.{{rp|146–147}}

The chairman's mandate is to transmit strategic communications to the combatant commanders from the prime minister and president as well as allocate additional funding to the combatant commanders if necessary.{{rp|146–147}} The chairman is nominated and appointed by the prime minister; and is finally confirmed by the president.{{rp|147}} Unlike United States's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the appointment of chairman does not need confirmation via majority vote by the parliament. Although, the appointment needs confirmation from the prime minister. By statute, the chairman is appointed as a four-star general, four-star air chief marshal and/or four star admiral. By law required, all four-star officers are required to have vast experience in joint uniformed services of Pakistan during their 40-year-long military careers.{{rp|148}}

The post of CJCSC was created by the former prime minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in March 1976, and the first chairman was four star rank officer, General Muhammad Shariff. The current holder of the office is General Sahir Shamshad Mirza appointed in 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1722629|title=Who is Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the new CJCSC?|date=November 24, 2022|website=DAWN.COM}}

Appointment preferences

{{See also|Revolt of the Admiral|l1=Revolt of the Admiral Bokhari|1999 Pakistani coup d'état|Interservice rivalry|Institutional discrimination|Army vs. Navy}}

Despite the post of the chairmanship is bound constitutionally for the rotation, the army generals are strongly preferred for such post, despite coming short of their qualifications, by the civilian prime ministers in a view of stabilizing the civil military relations.{{cite book|last1=Shafqat|first1=Saeed|title=Civil-military relations in Pakistan : from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to Benazir Bhutto|date=1997|publisher=Westview Press|location=Boulder, Colo.|isbn=9780813388090}}{{rp|229}}{{cite book|last1=Nawaz|first1=Shuja|title=Crossed Swords: Pakistan, Its Army, and the Wars Within|year=2008|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780195476606|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jKyfAAAAMAAJ|access-date=1 February 2017|language=en}}{{rp|426–427}}

Unlike the American system where the balance is made between the branches of the U.S. military, the majority of the chairmen are appointed from the department of the army, superseding the officers in the navy, marines, and the air force.{{cite web|last1=Dogar, PA|first1=Brig. Yakob Ali|title=Pakistan's Higher Defence Organization|url=http://www.defencejournal.com/jan99/defence.htm|website=www.defencejournal.com|publisher=defence Journal, Ali|access-date=2 January 2018|location=Islamabad, Pakistan|language=en-pk|date=January 1999|archive-date=1 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201100518/http://www.defencejournal.com/jan99/defence.htm|url-status=dead}}

In 1999, Prime Minister Sharif notably refused to appoint the senior most officer, Admiral Fasih Bokhari, to such post in favor of appointing junior-most officer, Gen. Pervez Musharraf. This action of Prime Minister Sharif led towards Adm. Bokhar revolting against this decision in public in 1999, creating strain in the relation between the civilian government and the military.{{cite news |title=Remembering Fasih Bokhari |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/750707-remembering-fasih-bokhari |work=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}{{cite news|last1=Siddiqi|first1=M A|title=Only PM to choose 30% of Pakistan's army chiefs|url=http://www.thefridaytimes.com/tft/only-pm-to-choose-30-of-pakistans-army-chiefs/|access-date=2 January 2018|work=The Friday Times|date=8 September 2017}}

The four-star admirals in the Pakistan Navy have been notably superseded by the junior army officers, in instances took place in 2005 when Adm. Karim was superseded by junior-most Lt-Gen. Ehsan ul Haq{{cite news |title=New JCSC chief, VCOAS appointed|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/397048|access-date=10 January 2017|work=Dawn.com |publisher=Dawn Newspapers |date=3 October 2004}} and, in 2011 when Adm. Numan was bypassed in favor of Lt-Gen. Wynne.{{cite web|last=Maverick Pakistan release|title=Navy chief to command Pakistani military|url=http://www.maverickpakistanis.com/2010/09/navy-chief-to-command-pakistani-military/|publisher=Maverick Pakistan release|access-date=11 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805143145/http://www.maverickpakistanis.com/2010/09/navy-chief-to-command-pakistani-military/|archive-date=5 August 2018|url-status=dead}} In 2014, the practice continued by the civil government when Adm. Asif Sandila was bypassed and overlooked when the junior most officer, Lt-Gen. Rashad Mahmood was eventually appointed as Chairman joint chiefs.{{cite news |title=Nawaz meets Kayani; appointment of new CJCSC discussed |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1047404 |access-date=6 August 2018 |work=DAWN.COM |date=4 October 2013}}{{cite news |title=CJCSC headhunt: Names shortlisted for Gen Wynne's replacement {{!}} The Express Tribune |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/612231/cjcsc-headhunt-names-shortlisted-for-gen-wynnes-replacement/ |access-date=6 August 2018 |work=The Express Tribune |date=2 October 2013}}

{{small\|Seniority in Navy's Candidacy for Chairman joint chiefs }}	{{small\|Eventual Appointment for Chairman joint chiefs from Army}}	{{small\|Year Zone of appointment}}
class="wikitable"
Adm. Fasih Bokhari	Lt-Gen. Pervez Musharraf	1999
Adm. Shahid Karim-ullah	Lt-Gen. Ehsan ul Haq	2006
Adm. Noman Bashir	Lt-Gen. K. Shamim Wynne	2011
Adm. Asif Sandila	Lt-Gen. Rashad Mahmood	2014

Due to such preferential treatments given to army department, the retired admirals have given a strong criticism of such criterion, expressing their dissatisfaction towards the appointment processes.{{cite web |title=Remembering Our Warriors - Vice Admiral Tasneem |url=http://defencejournal.com/2001/may/tasneem.htm |date=14 March 2021 |access-date=23 June 2022 |archive-date=14 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314174640/http://defencejournal.com/2001/may/tasneem.htm |url-status=dead }}

List of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

{{Officeholder table start

| showorder = y

| showimage = y

| officeholder_title = Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

| showtermlenght = y

| showparty = n

| showdefencebranch = y

| showaltofficeholder = y

| alt_officeholder_title = Prime Minister

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 1

| image =

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Muhammad Shariff {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|SI(M)}}

| officeholder_sort = Shariff, Muhammad

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1921

| died_year = 1999

| term_start = 1 March 1976

| term_end = 22 January 1977

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1976|03|01|1977|01|22}}

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

| alt_officeholder_sort = Bhutto, Zulfikar Ali

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 2

| image =

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Mohammad Shariff {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|HI(M)|SI(M)|HJ|SJ|SK}}

| officeholder_sort = Shariff, Mohammad

| officeholder_note = {{efn|General Sharif resigned in 1977 after the coup but had been ineffective from his duty as early as 22 January 1977. Admiral M.S. Khan filled his position on several occasion. General Sharif's resignation was not approved until March 1979.}}

| born_year = 1920

| died_year = 2020

| term_start = 22 January 1977

| term_end = 13 April 1980

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1977|01|22|1980|04|13}}

| defence_branch = {{navy|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

| alt_officeholder_sort = Bhutto, Zulfikar Ali

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 3

| image =

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Iqbal Khan {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|SBt}}

| officeholder_sort = Khan, Iqbal

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1924

| died_year = 2000

| term_start = 13 April 1980

| term_end = 22 March 1984

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1980|04|13|1984|03|22}}

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = None
1977 – 1985

| alt_officeholder_sort = *

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 4

| image = General Rahimuddin Khan.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Rahimuddin Khan {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|SBt}}

| officeholder_sort = Khan, Rahimuddin

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1926

| died_year = 2022

| term_start = 22 March 1984

| term_end = 28 March 1987{{cite book|last1=Standard|first1=Manila|title=Pakistan Retires Two Generals|date=17 March 1987|publisher=Manila Standard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r2wVAAAAIBAJ&dq=Rahimuddin+Khan&pg=PA3&article_id=3354,2609418|language=en}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1984|03|22|1987|04|29}}

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Mohammad Khan Junejo

| alt_officeholder_sort = Junejo, Mohammad Khan

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 5

| image =

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Akhtar Abdur Rahman {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|SBt}}

| officeholder_sort = Rahman, Akhtar Abdur

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1924

| died_year = 1988

| died = y

| term_start = 29 March 1987

| term_end = 17 August 1988

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1987|04|29|1988|08|17}}

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Mohammad Khan Junejo

| alt_officeholder_sort = Junejo, Mohammad Khan

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 6

| image = Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Iftikhar Ahmed Sirohey.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Iftikhar Ahmed Sirohey {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|HI(M)|SI(M)|SBt}}

| officeholder_sort = Sirohey, Iftikhar Ahmed

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1934

| died_year = 2025

| term_start = 10 November 1988

| term_end = 17 August 1991

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1988|11|10|1991|08|17}}

| defence_branch = {{navy|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Benazir Bhutto

| alt_officeholder_sort = Bhutto, Benazir

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 7

| image = General Shamim Alam Khan.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Shamim Allam {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|SJ|SBt}}

| officeholder_sort = Khan, Shamim Alam

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1937

| died_year = 2021

| term_start = 17 August 1991

| term_end = 9 November 1994

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1991|08|17|1994|11|09}}

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Nawaz Sharif

| alt_officeholder_sort = Sharif, Nawaz

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 8

| image =

| military_rank = Air Chief Marshal

| officeholder = Feroz Khan {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|SBt}}

| officeholder_sort = Khan, Farooq Feroze

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1939

| died_year = 2021

| term_start = 10 November 1994

| term_end = 9 November 1997

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1994|11|10|1997|11|09}}

| defence_branch = {{air force|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Benazir Bhutto

| alt_officeholder_sort = Bhutto, Benazir

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 9

| image = Jehangir Karamata.png

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Jehangir Karamat {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|SBt}}

| officeholder_sort = Karamat, Jehangir

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1941

| died_year =

| term_start = 9 November 1997

| term_end = 7 October 1998

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1997|11|09|1998|10|07}}

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Nawaz Sharif

| alt_officeholder_sort = Sharif, Nawaz

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 10

| image = PervezMusharraf.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Pervez Musharraf {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|TBt}}

| officeholder_sort = Musharraf, Pervez

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1943

| died_year = 2023

| term_start = 7 October 1998

| term_end = 7 October 2001

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|1998|10|07|2001|10|07}} years

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Nawaz Sharif

| alt_officeholder_sort = Sharif, Nawaz

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 11

| image = General Aziz Khan (cropped).jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Aziz Khan {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|SBt}}

| officeholder_sort = Khan, Aziz

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1947

| died_year =

| term_start = 7 October 2001

| term_end = 7 October 2004

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|1998|10|07|2001|10|07}} years

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Zafarullah Khan Jamali

| alt_officeholder_sort = Jamali, Zafarullah Khan

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 12

| image = Ehsan ul haq.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Ehsan ul Haq {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)}}

| officeholder_sort = ul Haq, Ehsan

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1949

| died_year =

| term_start = 7 October 2004

| term_end = 7 October 2007

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|2004|10|07|2007|10|07}} years

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Shaukat Aziz

| alt_officeholder_sort = Aziz, Shaukat

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 13

| image =

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Tariq Majid {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|HI(M)}}

| officeholder_sort = Majid, Tariq

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1950

| died_year =

| term_start = 7 October 2007

| term_end = 7 October 2010

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|2007|10|07|2010|10|07}} years

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Muhammad Mian Soomro

| alt_officeholder_sort = Soomro, Muhammad Mian

| alt_officeholder2 = Yousaf Raza Gillani

| alt_officeholder2_sort

= Gillani, Yousaf Raza

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 14

| image = Khalid Wynne (close-up).jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Khalid Shameem Wynne {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)}}

| officeholder_sort = Wynne, Khalid Shameem

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1953

| died_year = 2017

| term_start = 8 October 2010

| term_end = 8 October 2013

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|2010|10|08|2013|10|08}} years

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Yousaf Raza Gillani

| alt_officeholder_sort = Gillani, Yousaf Raza

| alt_officeholder2 = Raja Pervaiz Ashraf

| alt_officeholder2_sort = Ashraf, Raja Pervaiz

| alt_officeholder3 = Mir Hazar Khan Khoso

| alt_officeholder3_sort = Khoso, Mir Hazar Khan

| alt_officeholder4 = Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif

| alt_officeholder4_sort = Sharif, Nawaz

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = -

| image = Kayani in July 2010.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Ashfaq Parvez Kayani {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|HI(M)}}

| officeholder_sort = Kayani, Ashfaq Parvez

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1952

| died_year =

| term_start = 8 October 2013

| term_end = 27 November 2013

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2013|10|08|2013|11|27}}

| acting = y

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Nawaz Sharif

| alt_officeholder_sort = Sharif, Nawaz

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 15

| image = Rashad Mahmood.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Rashad Mahmood {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)}}

| officeholder_sort = Mahmood, Rashad

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1953

| died_year =

| term_start = 27 November 2013

| term_end = 28 November 2016

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2013|10|27|2016|10|28}}

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Nawaz Sharif

| alt_officeholder_sort = Sharif, Nawaz

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 16

| image = General Zubair.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Zubair Hayat {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)}}

| officeholder_sort = Hayat, Zubair Mahmood

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1960

| died_year =

| term_start = 28 November 2016

| term_end = 27 November 2019

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2016|11|28|2019|11|27}}

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Nawaz Sharif

| alt_officeholder_sort = Sharif, Nawaz

| alt_officeholder2 = Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

| alt_officeholder2_sort = Abbasi, Shahid Khaqan

| alt_officeholder3 = Imran Khan

| alt_officeholder3_sort = Khan, Imran

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 17

| image = CJCSC Gen.Nadeem Raza.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Nadeem Raza {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|HI(M)}}

| officeholder_sort = Raza Naveed

| born_year = 1965

| died_year =

| term_start = 27 November 2019

| term_end = 27 November 2022

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|2019|11|27|2022|11|27}} years

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Imran Khan

| alt_officeholder_sort = Khan, Imran

| alt_officeholder2 = Shehbaz Sharif

| alt_officeholder2_sort = Sharif, Shehbaz

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 18

| image = General-sahir-shamshad-mirza.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Sahir Shamshad Mirza {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=75%|sep=,|NI(M)|HI(M)}}

| officeholder_sort = Shamshad, Sahir

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 27 November 2022

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2022|11|27}}

| defence_branch = {{army|Pakistan}}

| alt_officeholder = Shehbaz Sharif

| alt_officeholder_sort =

}}

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by Branch of Service

File:Pervez Musharraf's Mercedes Benz in Pakistan.jpg's car in 2006)]]

Army - 14
Navy - 2
Air Force - 1

Notes

References

External links

[http://www.ispr.gov.pk/ Inter-Services Public Relations]

Category:Military of Pakistan

C

Pakistan

Category:Pakistani military appointments

Category:Pakistani military leaders