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Field marshal (Pakistan)

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Field Marshal
The insignia of a field marshal as worn on epaulettes
Country Pakistan
Service branch Pakistan Army
AbbreviationFM
RankFive-star
NATO rank codeOF-10
Next higher rankNone
Next lower rankGeneral
Equivalent ranksAdmiral of the fleet
Marshal of the air force

Field Marshal (FM) is the five-star and highest rank in the Pakistan Army awarded by the Government of Pakistan to the chief of army staff of the Pakistan Army in recognition of distinguished service. It is the highest rank in the Pakistan Armed Forces that ranks above General as well as Air Chief Marshal of the Pakistan Air Force and Admiral of the Pakistan Navy and below none. Although it is a current and authorized rank with a pay grade of "Apex Scale",[1] it has been used one-off throughout its history and no Pakistani army officer presently holds it, with the only field marshal being Muhammad Ayub Khan, who was promoted to the rank reportedly in 1965.[a] It comes with no additional powers and pay grade, but an honorary rank with a NATO's equivalent rank code OF-10. It is equivalent to fleet admiral, and while it is an ordinarily senior rank in Pakistan army, it can be refer as five-star general "standard rank scale" to distinguish it from other military insignias.[3]

Although a five-star field marshal assumes no additional power, but it could be a difficult task for government to combat the unconstitutional political movement.[4][5]

History

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Since Pakistan became a sovereign state in 1947, the five-star field marshal rank has only ever been bestowed once, which was to the then General Muhammad Ayub Khan.

Appointment

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The appointment of five-star field marshal is made through an appeal submitted for review request by the Prime minister of Pakistan in a joint effort with the president and defence ministry to the supreme court or high court for constitutional orders under certain rules and regulations, although the president exercises the power of the commander-in-chief and prime minister rules national assembly.[6][7][8]

Statutory limits

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Although five-star field marshal rank was only given once, there are no enough evidences that could establish statutory limits of a field marshal. However, the law of Pakistan restricts the use of unsanctioned power by a field marshal or general and can be constraint under a certain constitutional amendment.[9][10]

Notes

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  1. ^ Ayub retired from active service in 1958; however, he was made field marshal in 1959. See "Military Ruler Gets Himself Elevated", Dawn, 27 October 1959

    Dawn October 27, 1959 (News Report)

    President Ayub made Field Marshal

    General Mohammad Ayub Khan was conferred the rank of Field Marshal by the presidential cabinet. The communique said that the conferment of this rank will serve to demonstrate to the world in a humble way the high esteem in which he is held by his people and how grateful the nation is to its saviour. The rank of Field Marshal is the highest rank of armies built on the patron of the British Army. The press communique added that by a peaceful revolution last year the President had not only defended the territorial integrity of Pakistan but had also saved the very existence of the nation.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Ranks & Insignia". Pak Army. 2019-05-23.
  2. ^ "Gen. Ayub becomes President". Dawn. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  3. ^ Abrar, Mian (August 12, 2016). "General Raheel likely to be given field marshal's rank - Pakistan Today". Pakistan Today.
  4. ^ "Field Marshal Ayub Dead; Ex-President of Pakistan". The New York Times. April 21, 1974 – via NYTimes.com.
  5. ^ Haider, Murtaza (November 1, 2016). "What they never tell us about Ayub Khan's regime". Dawn.
  6. ^ "General Raheel Sharif to be elevated as Field Marshal?". Press Trust of India. October 16, 2016 – via Business Standard.
  7. ^ "Pakistan SC approached to make Army chief Gen Raheel field marshal". The New Indian Express.
  8. ^ "PML-N wanted to make Raheel Sharif field marshal: analyst | SAMAA". Samaa TV.
  9. ^ "Pakistan's Former dictator Pervez Musharraf sentenced to death in high treason case". The Economic Times. December 17, 2019.
  10. ^ Hussain, Shaiq (2019-12-17). "Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf is sentenced to death for treason". Washington Post.
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