The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC)[a] is, in principle, the highest-ranking and senior most uniformed military officer, typically at four-star rank, in the Pakistan Armed Forces who serves as a principal staff officer (PSO) and a chief military adviser to the civilian government led by elected prime minister of Pakistan and the National Security Council.

[3]: 148 The post of CJCSC was created by the former prime minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in March 1976, and the first chairman was four star rank officer, General Muhammad Shariff.

[5]: 229 [6]: 426–427 Unlike the American system where the balance is made between the branches of the U.S. military, the majority of the chairmen are appointed from the department of the army, superseding the officers in the navy, marines, and the air force.

This action of Prime Minister Sharif led towards Adm. Bokhar revolting against this decision in public in 1999, creating strain in the relation between the civilian government and the military.

[11] In 2014, the practice continued by the civil government when Adm. Asif Sandila was bypassed and overlooked when the junior most officer, Lt-Gen. Rashad Mahmood was eventually appointed as Chairman joint chiefs.