The History of Supersessions Caused by Pakistani C-in-Cs and COASs
November 28, 2013
By Maj (R) Zuha Saeed (12 OTS)
Editor’s Note: Maj Zuha Saeed is from 28 Cavalry. He got early retirement in 1995. He has settled in Islamabad.
Just for the record and remembering our glorious military history, I was intrigued and I started to collect data after Gen Raheel Sharif was announced our 15th COAS on 27th Nov 2013 (He took over on 29 November 2013).
To my surprise and grief, there I found such big names we have lost in dust of history, I just could not stop myself to write this piece …I BET, my finding in the last paragraph of this article will be worth a read, just as reminder to all and my gratitude to their service to our great Army.
Here are the names of GENERALS who got trampled in this dirty game of POWER in the last 66 years!!
I am not taking into consideration the first two British Army Chiefs; Gen Sir Frank Messervy (August 15, 1947 – February 10, 1948) and Gen Sir Douglas Gracey (February 11, 1948 – January 16, 1951).
Ayub Khan
1. Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan (January 16, 1951 – October 26, 1958) was the first NATIVE officer to take over Pakistan Army. When he was promoted as C-in-C, he superseded 3 Maj Gens on his elevation:-
- Maj Gen Akbar Khan
- Maj Gen N A M Raza
- Maj Gen ??? (PA-6, a Bengali officer)
Musa Khan
2. Gen Muhammad Musa (October 27, 1958 – June 17, 1966). He superseded the following on his promotion:-
- Maj Gen Sher Ali Khan Pataudi
- Maj Gen Latif Khan
- Maj Gen Adam Khan
Yahya Khan
3. Gen Muhammad Yahya Khan (June 18, 1966 – December 20, 1971) was designated Deputy C-in-C in March 1966, and later became the C in C in June 1966. He supersede the following Generals:-
- Lt Gen Altaf Qadir
- Lt Gen Bakhtiar Rana
Gul Hassan
4. Lt Gen Gul Hassan Khan (December 20, 1971 – March 3, 1972). He was the only 3 star C-in-C we ever had. He superseded only one Gen:-
- Lt Gen Tikka Khan
Tikka Khan
5. Gen Tikka Khan (March 3, 1972 – March 1, 1976). He was the only superseded 3 star to become Army Chief in our history. He was made 4 star C in C after Gul Hassan was removed by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on 2nd March 1972. He was promoted on seniority and did not supersede any officer.
Zia-ul-Haq
6. Gen Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (March 1, 1976 – August 17, 1988). When Bhutto elevated him as COAS in March 1976, Zia superseded the following Generals:-
- Lt. Gen Muhammad Shariff
- Lt Gen Aftab Ahmad Khan
- Lt Gen Akbar Khan
- Lt Gen Azmat Baksh Awan
- Lt Gen Ghulam Jilani
- Lt Gen Abdul Majid Malik
(Some put Lt Gen Agha Ibrahim Akram as senior to Zia-ul-Haq, but I am not very sure about it).
Aslam Beg
7. Gen Mirza Aslam Beg (August 17, 1988 to August 16, 1991). He was promoted after the plane crash of Gen Zia. He was already VCOAS and did not supersede any officer.
Asif Nawaz
8. Gen Asif Nawaz (Aug ust16, 1991 – January 8, 1993). He was promoted on seniority and did not supersede any officer.
Waheed Kakar
9. Gen Abdul Waheed Kakar (January 11, 1993 – January 12, 1996). When Gen Waheed Kakar was promoted after the sudden death of Gen Asif Nawaz, the following four Lt Gens were superseded:-
- Lt Gen Rehm Dil Bhatti
- Lt Gen Mohammad Ashraf
- Lt Gen Farrakh Khan
- Lt Gen Arif Bangash
(Among these generals, last two opted to continue serving as per Gen Kakar’s request).
Jehangir Karamat
10. Gen Jehangir Karamat (January 12, 1996 – October 6, 1998). He was promoted on seniority and did not supersede any officer.