# Muhammad Shariff (general)

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For other people, see [Muhammed Sharif](/source/Muhammed_Sharif_(disambiguation)).

[General](/source/General_(Pakistan)) **Muhammad Shariff** [NI(M)](/source/Nishan-e-Imtiaz) [SPk](/source/Civil_decorations_of_Pakistan) [SI(M)](/source/Sitara-i-Imtiaz) ( ; 22 February 1921 – 6 August 1999) was a Pakistani general who served as the first [Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee](/source/Chairman_Joint_Chiefs_of_Staff_Committee) from 1976 until tendering his [resignation](/source/Resignation) in 1977 over the disagreement with the [military takeover](/source/Operation_Fair_Play) of the [civilian government](/source/Government_of_Pakistan) by the [army](/source/Pakistani_Army).: 61[1]: 301–304[2]

## Biography

Muhammad Shariff was born on 22 February 1921 into a [Punjabi](/source/Punjabi_people) family in [Lahore](/source/Lahore), [Punjab](/source/Punjab,_British_India) in [India](/source/British_Indian_Empire).: 374[3][4] After being educated at the [Lawrence College](/source/Lawrence_College,_Murree) in [Murree](/source/Murree), Shariff was [commissioned](/source/Commissioned_officer) in the 3rd infantry battalion of the [2nd Punjab Regiment](/source/2nd_Punjab_Regiment) of the [British Indian Army](/source/British_Indian_Army) in 1942.[4] [2nd-Lt.](/source/Second_Lieutenant) Shariff saw actions in the [Burma front](/source/Burma_Campaign) during [World War II](/source/World_War_II) with the [British Indian Army](/source/British_Indian_Army).[4]

After the [partition](/source/Partition_of_India) of [India](/source/India) in [1947](/source/1947_in_Pakistan), [Captain](/source/Captain_(Army)) Shariff moved to join the newly formed [Pakistan Army](/source/Pakistan_Army) where his career progressed extremely well, having attended and graduated from the [Imperial Defence College](/source/Imperial_Defence_College).: 302[2] In 1952, [Major](/source/Major_(rank)) Shariff was promoted as a [lieutenant-colonel](/source/Lieutenant-colonel) and qualified as [psc](/source/Psc_(military)) from the [Command and Staff College](/source/Pakistan_Command_and_Staff_College) in [Quetta](/source/Quetta); he later achieved promotion to [Brigadier](/source/Brigadier) in 1959.[4]

In 1960, [Brig.](/source/Brigadier_(United_Kingdom)) Shariff played a crucial role when he commanded the tactical [strike brigade](/source/Brigade_combat_team) to [remove the Nawab of Dir](/source/Dir_campaign) and [Khan of Jandol](/source/Jandol_State) to prevent secession from [Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa](/source/Khyber_Pakhtunkhwa), [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan).[5]

In 1964–66, [Brig.](/source/Brigadier_(United_Kingdom)) Shariff moved to the staff assignment at the [Army GHQ](/source/GHQ_(Pakistan_Army)), serving in the [Corps of Education](/source/Pakistan_Army_Education_Corps) where he served on the army board to select the potential candidates to be educated at the [Royal Military Academy Sandhurst](/source/Royal_Military_Academy_Sandhurst).[4] In 1966, [Major-General](/source/Major-General) Shariff was appointed as the [Inspector General Training and Evaluation](/source/List_of_serving_Generals_of_the_Pakistan_Army) (IGT&E) at the [Army GHQ](/source/GHQ_(Pakistan_Army)), and later appointed as the [Commandant](/source/Commandant) of the [Command and Staff College](/source/Pakistan_Command_and_Staff_College) in [Quetta](/source/Quetta), which he served until 1970.: 374[3]

In 1970, [Maj-Gen.](/source/Major-General) Shariff was promoted to the [three-star](/source/Three-star_rank) rank in the army, and took over the diplomatic assignment as opposed to the command assignment.: 374[3] [Lieutenant-General](/source/Lieutenant-General) Shariff was posted as the [permanent representative](/source/Pakistani_diplomatic_missions) at the [CENTO](/source/Central_Treaty_Organization)'s [HQ](/source/Headquarters) in [Ankara](/source/Ankara), [Turkey](/source/Turkey), which he remained until 1971.[4]

On 12 December 1971, [Lt-Gen.](/source/Lieutenant-General) Shariff returned to Pakistan and partially took over the command of the [33rd Infantry Division](/source/Structure_of_the_Pakistan_Army), stationed in [Quetta](/source/Quetta), from its [GOC](/source/General_officer_commanding), [Maj-Gen.](/source/Major-General) Naseer Ahmad, who was [wounded in action](/source/Wounded_in_action) against the [Indian Army](/source/Indian_Army).[4] After inspecting the [infantry division](/source/Division_(military)), Lt-Gen. Shariff eventually handed over the command of the [33rd Infantry Division](/source/Structure_of_the_Pakistan_Army) to then [Maj-Gen.](/source/Major-General) [Iqbal Khan](/source/Iqbal_Khan_(general)) and departed to Turkey.[4]

In 1972, Lt-Gen. Shariff was appointed as [field commander](/source/General_Officer_Commanding-in-Chief) of the [II Corps](/source/II_Corps_(Pakistan)), stationed in [Multan](/source/Multan).: 441[6] During this time, Lt-Gen. Shariff played a crucial role in his role as a [secondment](/source/Secondment) when he led his [II Corps](/source/II_Corps_(Pakistan)) to provide the [military aid to the civil power](/source/Military_aid_to_the_civil_power) to maintain [law and order](/source/Law_and_order_in_Pakistan) in [Karachi](/source/Karachi), amid the [labour unrest](/source/Karachi_labour_unrest_of_1972).[4] In 1974, Lt-Gen, Shariff was appointed as an honorary [Colonel commandant](/source/Colonel_commandant) of the [Punjab Regiment](/source/Punjab_Regiment_(Pakistan)).[4]

## Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

In 1976, General [Tikka Khan](/source/Tikka_Khan)'s retirement as a [chief of army staff](/source/Chief_of_Army_Staff_(Pakistan)) was due, and Lt-Gen. Shariff was the most senior army general in the [Pakistani military](/source/Pakistani_military).: 262[7] Initially, Lt-Gen, Shariff was in the race for the promotion to [four-star](/source/Four-star_rank) rank alongside six other army generals.: 67[8]

Eventually, [Prime Minister](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Pakistan) [Zulfikar Ali Bhutto](/source/Zulfikar_Ali_Bhutto) promoted and elevated the junior-most Lt-Gen, [Zia-ul-Haq](/source/Muhammad_Zia-ul-Haq), to the [four-star](/source/Four-star_rank) appointment and appointed him as nation's second [army chief](/source/Army_Chief_of_Staff_(Pakistan)) in 1976.: 67[8] [Prime Minister Bhutto](/source/Zulfikar_Ali_Bhutto) moved to create the [Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee](/source/Joint_Chiefs_of_Staff_Committee) and promoted Lt-Gen. Shariff to the four-star rank, posting him as first [Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee](/source/Chairman_Joint_Chiefs_of_Staff_Committee) on 1 March 1976.: contents[9]

His relations with Gen. Zia were limited but he seemed to dislike General Zia personally.: 125–126[10] In 1974–75, Lt-Gen. Shariff had submitted a report to the then-army chief General [Tikka Khan](/source/Tikka_Khan) that detailed [Maj-Gen.](/source/Major-General) Zia's actions of bypassing the [chain of command](/source/Chain_of_Command) in the military but the report was overshadowed due to Zia's dedication towards promoting the professionalism in the military.: 125–126[10] His duties as [Chairman Joint Chiefs](/source/Chairman_Joint_Chiefs_of_Staff_Committee) had been largely ineffective, and his deputy Admiral [M.S. Khan](/source/Mohammad_Shariff) had led the delegation to meet with [Vice Chairman](/source/Vice_Chairman_of_the_Communist_Party_of_China) [Li Xiannian](/source/Li_Xiannian) when he paid a state visit to Pakistan on 22 January 1977.: 28[11]

His relations with Gen. Zia soured and he was not supportive towards the actions by General Zia of [military takeover](/source/Operation_Fair_Play) of the [civilian government](/source/Government_of_Pakistan),[citation needed] and regretted that this ultimate step had become inevitable.[12] In July 1977, General Shariff prematurely sought retirement and he submitted his resignation to the [President of Pakistan](/source/President_of_Pakistan), asking him to relieve him of his duty.: 304[2]

In public circles, General Shariff privately made it clear that the [martial law](/source/1977_Pakistani_coup_d'%C3%A9tat) was in fact unconstitutional.[4] Furthermore, General Shariff was of the view of strengthening the Chairman joint chiefs' role to be more assertive and with more power than the army chief, but before the system could evolve itself, the July 1977 coup disturbed the power balance, and tilted it heavily in favor of the army chief.[13]

In 1977, General Shariff left the chairmanship of the joint chiefs to his deputy Admiral [Mohammad Shariff](/source/Mohammad_Shariff) but it was not until 1979 when his resignation actually became effective.: 304[2][4] He died in Lahore on 6 August 1999.[4]

## Awards and decorations

Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Order of Excellence) Sitara-e-Pakistan (SPk) Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Star of Excellence) Tamgha-e-Diffa (General Service Medal) Dir-Bajaur 1960-62 Clasp Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War (War Star 1965) Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War (War Star 1965) Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War (War Medal 1965) Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War (War Medal 1971) Pakistan Tamgha (Pakistan Medal) 1947 Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e- Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam (100th Birth Anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah) 1976 Tamgha-e-Jamhuria (Republic Commemoration Medal) 1956 War Medal 1939-1945 India Service Medal 1939–1945 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953)

### Foreign decorations

Foreign Awards UK War Medal 1939-1945 India Service Medal 1939–1945 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal

## References

1. Siddiqa-Agha, A. (2001). [*Pakistan's Arms Procurement and Military Buildup, 1979–99: In Search of a Policy*](https://books.google.com/books?id=beJ8DAAAQBAJ&q=General+%28Retd%29+Muhammad+sharif%21+Former+Chairman&pg=PA61). 1st ed. Springer. p. 218. ISBN 9780230513525. Retrieved 26 December 2017.

1. GoP, Govt. of Pakistan (1979). [*The Gazette of Pakistan*](https://books.google.com/books?id=sb1PAQAAMAAJ&q=456). Retrieved 26 December 2017.

1. *Ilmi Encyclopaedia of General Knowledge*. Ilmi Kitab Khana. 1979.

1. Sehgal, Major Ikram (August 1999). ["Obituary: A Soldier of Character General (Retd) Muhammad Shariff Former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee"](http://www.defencejournal.com/aug99/obituary.htm) (in en-pk). *www.defencejournal.com*. Defence Journal. Retrieved 26 December 2017.

1. Amin, A.H. (February 2002). ["Remembering Our Warriors: Brig. Shamim S. Manto"](http://www.defencejournal.com/2002/february/manto.htm) (in en-pk). *www.defencejournal.com*. Islamabad: Defence Journal. Retrieved 26 December 2017.

1. Nawaz, Shuja (2008). *Crossed swords : Pakistan, its army, and the wars within*. Karachi: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195476606.

1. Wolpert, Stanley A. (1993). [*Zulfi Bhutto of Pakistan: his life and times*](https://books.google.com/books?id=C-ltAAAAMAAJ&q=lt+gen+muhammad+shariff). Karachi: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195076615. Retrieved 26 December 2017.

1. Baruah, Amit (2007). [*Dateline Islamabad*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Yu6LvrhQst4C&q=lt+gen+muhammad+shariff&pg=PA67). Penguin Books India. ISBN 9780143102465. Retrieved 26 December 2017.

1. Alam, Dr Shah (2012). [*Pakistan Army: Modernisation, Arms Procurement and Capacity Building*](https://books.google.com/books?id=WvapCQAAQBAJ&q=lt+gen+muhammad+shariff+chairman&pg=PT51). Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. ISBN 9789381411797. Retrieved 26 December 2017.

1. Khan, Feroz Hassan (2012). ["Punishing Pakistan"](https://books.google.com/books?id=yGgrNAsKZjEC&q=muhammad+sharif+zia&pg=PA125). *Eating Grass: The Making of the Pakistan' atomic bomb* (google books). 1st ed. Palo Alto, ca, u.s.: Stanford University Press. p. 400. ISBN 9780804784801. Retrieved 26 December 2017.

1. Service, United States Foreign Broadcast Information (1979). [*Daily Report: People's Republic of China*](https://books.google.com/books?id=d5ssAAAAMAAJ&q=vice+admiral+mohammad+shariff+vice+chief+naval). National Technical Information Service. Retrieved 5 January 2017.

1. Arif, Khalid Mahmud (1995). *Working with Zia : Pakistan's power politics, 1977–1988*. Karachi: Oxford University Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-19-577570-9. [Upon being informed that Operation Fair Play was underway,] General Shariff felt sorry that this ultimate step had become inevitable.

1. Brig (retd) Yasub Ali Dogar. ["Pakistan's Higher Defence Reorganisation"](http://www.defencejournal.com/jan99/defence.htm) *Defence Journal* January 1999

## External links

- [Obituary of General Muhammad Shariff](http://www.defencejournal.com/aug99/obituary.htm)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Muhammad Shariff (general)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Shariff_(general)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Shariff_(general)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.