General Frank Messervy

Pakistan's first Commander-in-Chief retired from the post in less than one year. It is believed his resistance of Governer-General Muhammad Ali Jinnah's orders was the main reason behind his retirement.

Served: Aug 15, 1947 - Feb 10, 1948

General douglas gracey

Like his successor, Gracey also refused Governer-General Jinnah's order to send troops to the Kashmiri front. He retired prematurely and was Pakistan's last British Army chief.

Served: feb 11, 1948 - jan 16, 1951

field marshal ayub khan

Ayub was Pakistan's first native four star General and only (self-appointed) Field Marshal. He became president following the 1958 coup and was Army chief for over six years before appointing a successor.

Served: jan 16, 1951 - oct 26, 1958

general muhammad musa

A loyal Commander-in-Chief to Ayub, Musa served two terms as Army chief through Ayub's presidency. Ayub made him Governor West Pakistan from 1967-1969 when he retired from service. 

Served: oct 27, 1958 - June 17, 1966

general yahya khan

Ayub appointed Yahya as Army chief in 1966 and invited him to take over presidency in 1969. Yahya installed a military govt. He was put under house confinement after handing presidency over to Bhutto in 1971.

Served: June 18, 1966 - dec 20, 1971

general gul hassan khan

Appointed by then president, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Gul Hassan served as Army chief for just over two months before he was deposed by Bhutto at the recommendation of the Hamoodur Rehman Commission.

Served: dec 20, 1971 - march 3, 1972

general tikka khan

Appointed by then PM Bhutto, Tikka Khan served one term as Pakistan's first Chief of Army Staff. He retired after his term expired and was made Defence and Security Adviser in Bhutto's administration. 

Served: march 3, 1972 - March 1, 1976

general ziaul haq

Appointed by PM Bhutto, Zia remained Army chief for four terms. After declaring martial law in 1977, he became president from 1978 until his death in 1988. 

Served: March 1, 1976 - aug 17, 1988

general mirza aslam beg

Beg succeeded Zia and witnessed Benazir become PM. He was denied an extension at the end of his term as Army chief by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and retired from service.

Served:  aug 17, 1988 - aug 16, 1991

general asif nawaz

President Ghulam Ishaq Khan appointed Nawaz as COAS. His tenure was cut short when he died of a heart attack.

Served:  aug 16, 1991 - jan 8, 1993

general abdul waheed kakar

As COAS, Kakar pressured President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and PM Nawaz to hand over their resignations, precipitating in the 1993 elections in which Benazir was elected PM.  He retired at the end of his term.

Served:  jan 11, 1993 - jan 12, 1996

general jehangir karamat

Karamat was appointed COAS by PM Benazir Bhutto. He was forced to resign by PM Nawaz over differences with the civilian government and later became envoy to the US from 2004-2006 under Musharraf.

Served:  jan 12, 1996 - oct 6, 1998

general pervez musharraf

Musharraf was appointed Army chief by the Nawaz govt, and seized power in the 1999 coup. He served as Defence Minister and Chief Executive of Pakistan from 1999-2002. 

Served:  oct 6, 1998 - nov 28, 2007

general pervez musharraf

He legitimised his rule by holding elections in 2002 and became the tenth president of Pakistan until 2008. He retired from Army service in 2007 and appointed his own successor to the post of Army chief.

Served:  oct 6, 1998 - nov 28, 2007

general ashfaq parvez kayani

Kayani served two terms as COAS after the Zardari govt approved his extension in 2010, citing continuity as the reason for doing so. When he retired from service, a successor was appointed by PM Nawaz.

Served:  nov 29, 2007 - nov 29, 2013

general raheel sharif

Gen Raheel is the fourth COAS appointed by PM Nawaz. At the time of appointment, he was not among the favourites in the race for the post. Following the 2014 attack on Karachi airport, he spearheaded

Served:  nov 29, 2013 - nov 30, 2016?

general raheel sharif

Operations Zarb-i-Azb, Khyber-I and Khyber-II which targeted militancy in  North Waziristan, Tirah Valleyand Bara. He is also the architect of the reconciliation process between the Taliban and the Afghan govt.

Served:  nov 29, 2013 - nov 30, 2016?

general raheel sharif

Gen Raheel has been supportive of the civilian govt and maintains strong influence over the govt's foreign and national security policies. He announced on Jan 25 that he will not seek an extension as Army chief.

Served:  nov 29, 2013 - nov 30, 2016?

photo credits

Pak Army Museum

Reuters

AFP