Will Pakistan army chief remain Field Marshal for life?

The Pakistan government’s notification promoting General Syed Asim Munir to the rank of Field Marshal has sparked debate over whether the five-star rank is a lifetime honor and how it intersects with his ongoing role as Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

The Ministry of Defense has issued a notification under Rule 199-A of the Pakistan Army Regulations (Rules), 1998, which states:
“A General officer, whether serving or retired, may be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal by the Federal Government without regard to seniority or any specific appointment.”

Crucially, the regulations do not impose any age or service limits on a Field Marshal’s tenure. However, Section 12 of the same rules clarifies that the federal government retains the authority to retire any officer, including a Field Marshal, through an official gazette notification.

Is Field Marshal a lifetime title?

Advocate Major (retd) Waheed Akhtar, while speaking to Nukta, said Section 12 means that a Field Marshal can only be retired by the stroke of the Federal Government. He added that Field Marshal Asim Munir can now continue even after 2027, which was his scheduled tenure as a four-star general, citing the amendments made to the Army Act in November 2024.

“Field Marshal Asim Munir won’t need any extensions, nor will the age limit apply to him now. It will be solely the federal government’s prerogative to decide when to retire him,” he maintained.

Brigadier (retd) Masood, a defense analyst, told Nukta that the rank of Field Marshal remains for life, even after retirement.
“When other officers retire, the word ‘retired’ is added to their rank -- but not for a Field Marshal.”

However, he clarified that while the title is permanent, a retired Field Marshal does not retain operational influence over military decisions. “It’s a symbolic, honorary rank -- an acknowledgment of extraordinary leadership.”

Will a vice COAS be appointed?

General (retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi emphasized that Gen Munir’s promotion is not honorary but a formal elevation in rank, making him the senior-most officer in the Pakistan Army, outranking even the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

He suggested that a vice chief of army staff (VCOAS) could be appointed by the army to handle routine matters, while the Field Marshal retains control over critical functions like operations, intelligence, and strategic command.

This wouldn’t be unprecedented -- Field Marshal Ayub Khan, General Zia-ul-Haq, and General Pervez Musharraf all had VCOAS appointees during their tenures, such as General Musa Khan under Ayub Khan, General Khalid Mahmud Arif under Zia, and General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani under Musharraf.

Legal ambiguities: When does the tenure start?

The Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act, November 2024, modified Section 8C of the 1952 Act, stating:
“The retirement age and service limits prescribed for a General shall not apply to the COAS during his tenure, reappointment, or extension.”

While this ensures continuity for Munir as Army Chief, it leaves unresolved whether his tenure as Field Marshal is calculated from his promotion date (May 2025) or his initial appointment as COAS (November 2022)—a distinction with potential implications for his retirement timeline and ceremonial status. Experts told Nukta that this ambiguity awaits clarification from the federal government.

Protocol and privileges of a field marshal

The promotion comes with distinct ceremonial privileges. A Field Marshal is entitled to display five white stars on a red background on the front and rear of official vehicles. These star plates may only be used when the officer is physically present in an Army-registered service vehicle and must remain covered at all other times.

If the Field Marshal also serves as President, the insignia may be displayed on a civilian-registered car. The regulations also allow foreign-entitled officers to use star plates on vehicles with civil registration numbers when appropriate.

While the rank of Field Marshal is lifelong, its practical implications -- such as Gen Munir’s continued role as COAS, potential VCOAS appointment, and tenure calculation -- remain subjects of legal and governmental deliberation.