Deputy chief of Army Staff
 Pakistan Army
TypePrincipal staff officer
AbbreviationDCOAS
Reports toVice Chief of the Army Staff
SeatGHQ, Rawalpindi
Term length3 years,
Renewable once
Formation2 May 2003 (2003-05-02)
First holderGeneral Muzaffar Hussain Usmani
Unofficial namesDeputy Army Chief
DeputyAssistant Chief of the Army Staff

The Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (DCOAS) in Pakistan holds the rank of Lieutenant-General and serves as Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Pakistan Army. They report directly to the Vice Chief of the Army Staff and occupy a crucial three-star rank position. Assisting the Chief of Army Staff, the Deputy Chief of Army Staff holds the third most important military position in the Pakistan Army. Their responsibilities encompass strategic planning, decision-making, and the overall management of the army.

History

The position of Deputy Chief of Army Staff (DCOAS) in Pakistan had persisted since the era of the previous military ruler, Zia-ul Haq. It was first officially established in May 2001 as the Principal Staff Officer of the Pakistan army by then Chief Executive of Pakistan General Parvez Musharraf after the 1999 military takeover.

The post of the Deputy Chief of the army staff is the third most senior position and the appointment holder is a three-star general. To date, only one Deputy COAS has been appointed and that is Lt. General Muzaffar Hussain Usmani who was appointed as Deputy Chief on 3 May 2001 by then Chief executive and COAS General Pervez Musharraf.

During Usmani's time as Deputy COAS held the rank of a three-star general and occupied the second-highest military position in the Pakistan Army. Gen. Musharraf's decision to appoint him was seen as a means to consolidate his own authority and potentially pave the way for his ascension to the presidency of Pakistan. However, their relationship soured over time, leading to Lt. Gen. Usmani's removal from the position in 2002.[1][2][3]

Appointees

Mentioned below is the only person to serve as Deputy Chief of Army Staff

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Unit of commission Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office Notes
1 Lieutenant General
Muzaffar Hussain Usmani HI(M)
(1966–2020)		 17 May 2001 8 October 2001 144 days 10 Frontier Force Regiment [4] [nb 1]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Lt. Gen. Usmani commenced his service in the Pakistan Army as a commissioned officer in 1966. Over a span of four decades, he fulfilled numerous command and staff roles, showcasing his versatile capabilities. Notably, he assumed leadership of a corps-sized formation stationed in Bahawalpur.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Pakistan: Lt. Gen. Usmani appointed deputy chief of army staff". Arab News. 2 May 2001. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  2. ↑ "Musharraf opens deputy chief post". The Washington Times.
  3. ↑ "Former Karachi corps commander's body found in city's DHA area". Tribune.com.pk. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "Usmani named deputy army chief". 1 May 2001. Lt-Gen Usmani was commissioned in 1966 in an armoured infantry battalion. After four years of regimental duties he was posted to School of Infantry and Tactics, Quetta, as instructor. In 1974, he was posted to Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, as Platoon and Company Commander. After promotion to the rank of colonel, he commanded two armoured infantry battalions, including a battalion in Saudi Arabia. As brigadier, he commanded an infantry as well as a mechanized brigade.
  5. ↑ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2 October 2020). "Ex-Karachi corps commander found dead in his car". DAWN.COM.
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