Pakistan's Army Chief Set to Become First Chief of Defence Forces

Appointment of Chief of Defence Forces in Pakistan

Islamabad: On Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially requested President Asif Ali Zardari to appoint Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan's inaugural Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

This move follows the recent passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment by parliament, which established the CDF role aimed at enhancing command unity and accelerating decision-making during critical situations.

The new CDF position will replace the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), which has been abolished.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the prime minister has sanctioned the summary for Field Marshal Munir's appointment as both the army chief and CDF, forwarding it to the President's House for approval.

Once the president approves, the COAS will also assume the CDF role, as the constitutional amendments grant dual authority to one individual.

The term for this appointment is set for five years.

Field Marshal Munir was initially appointed as COAS in November 2022 for a three-year term, which was later extended to five years in 2024.

Additionally, the Prime Minister's Office announced that Sharif has approved a two-year extension for Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, effective upon the completion of his current five-year term in March 2026.

This formal notification has dispelled rumors about delays in appointing the CDF, a position that has been vacant since November 27, when the previous CJCSC, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, retired.

Previously, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar stated at a press conference that there were no legal or political barriers to issuing the notification for the Chief of Defence Forces, and it would be released shortly.