Chairman_Joint_Chiefs_of_Staff_Committee

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

Highest principle staff officer of the Pakistan Armed Forces

The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) (Urdu: 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 and a chief military adviser to the civilian government led by elected Prime minister of Pakistan and his/her National Security Council. The role of advisement is also extended to the elected members in the bicameral Parliament and the Ministry of Defence.[1]: 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, DG Coast Guards and Strategic Plans Division, and commanders of the service branches in the Civil Armed Forces and the National Guard.[2]: 145–146 

Quick Facts Type, Status ...

Even as the Principal Staff Officer (PSO), the Chairman does not have any authority over the command of the combatant forces.[3]: 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.[3]: 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.[3]: 146–147  The Chairman is nominated and appointed by the Prime Minister; and is finally confirmed by the President.[3]: 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.[3]: 148 

The post of CJCSC was created by 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.[4]

Appointment preferences

See also: Revolt of the Admiral Bokhari, 1999 Pakistani coup d'état, Interservice rivalry, Institutional discrimination, and 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.[5]: 229 [6]: 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.[7]

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.[8][9]

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[10] and, in 2011 when Adm. Numan was bypassed in favor of Lt-Gen. Wynne.[11] 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.[12][13]

More information Seniority in Navy's Candidacy for Chairman joint chiefs, Eventual Appointment for Chairman joint chiefs from Army ...

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.[14]

List of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

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Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by Branch of Service

Car used by Chairman Joint Chiefs with the flag and star plate (General Ehsan ul Haq's car in 2006)
  • Army - 14
  • Navy - 2
  • Air Force - 1

See also

Notes

  1. 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.

References

  1. [1]
    Cheema, Pervaiz Iqbal (2002). The armed forces of Pakistan (1st ed.). New York: New York University Press. p. 200. ISBN 9780814716335. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  2. [2]
    Rizvi, H. (2000). "Civilian interlude". Military, State and Society in Pakistan (googlebooks) (1st ed.). New York, U.S.: Springer. p. 295. ISBN 9780230599048. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  3. [3]
    Rizvi, H. (2000). "Civilian Interlude". Military, State and Society in Pakistan (google books). U.K.: Springer. p. 300. ISBN 9780230599048. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  4. [4]
    "Who is Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the new CJCSC?". DAWN.COM. 24 November 2022.
  5. [5]
    Shafqat, Saeed (1997). Civil-military relations in Pakistan : from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to Benazir Bhutto. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press. ISBN 9780813388090.
  6. [6]
    Nawaz, Shuja (2008). Crossed Swords: Pakistan, Its Army, and the Wars Within. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195476606. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  7. [7]
    Dogar, PA, Brig. Yakob Ali (January 1999). "Pakistan's Higher Defence Organization". www.defencejournal.com. Islamabad, Pakistan: defence Journal, Ali. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  8. [8]
    "Remembering Fasih Bokhari". www.thenews.com.pk.
  9. [9]
    Siddiqi, M A (8 September 2017). "Only PM to choose 30% of Pakistan's army chiefs". The Friday Times. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  10. [10]
    "New JCSC chief, VCOAS appointed". Dawn.com. Dawn Newspapers. 3 October 2004. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  11. [11]
    Maverick Pakistan release. "Navy chief to command Pakistani military". Maverick Pakistan release. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  12. [12]
    "Nawaz meets Kayani; appointment of new CJCSC discussed". DAWN.COM. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  13. [13]
    "CJCSC headhunt: Names shortlisted for Gen Wynne's replacement | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  14. [14]
    "Remembering Our Warriors - Vice Admiral Tasneem". 14 March 2021. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  15. [15]
    Standard, Manila (17 March 1987). Pakistan Retires Two Generals. Manila Standard.
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