The 27th Constitutional Amendment, which abolished the post of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), took effect at midnight on Thursday, coinciding with the retirement of General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the last officer to hold the post.
The amendment to Article 243, passed by parliament on Nov 13 and signed by President Asif Ali Zardari, formally dissolved the tri-service coordinating office that had existed since 1976, ending nearly five decades of institutional representation for the navy and air force at the highest level of military decision-making.
Under the new structure, joint operations, multi-domain planning and inter-service integration have been consolidated under a newly created office: the chief of defence forces (CDF), who will also serve as chief of the army staff (COAS).
Despite the government not issuing the formal notification by Thursday evening, it is widely expected that Field Marshal Asim Munir, the current COAS, will assume the dual role. His tenure will reset to a fresh five-year term, with the possibility of another extension, potentially keeping him in command until 2035. The delay in notification is attributed to final work on procedural details.
The restructuring expands the army chief’s influence significantly, including enhanced authority over the nuclear command structure through the creation of a new four-star position, the Commander of National Strategic Command (CNSC).
Appointment and extension of the CNSC will be based solely on the CDF’s recommendation and insulated from judicial review, a provision legal experts describe as unprecedented.
While amendments to service laws now reflect the new hierarchy, the National Command Authority Act has yet to be updated. The future configuration of Joint Services Headquarters also remains unsettled.
In his farewell remarks, Gen Mirza expressed confidence in the reform, calling tri-service integration essential for future warfare. Critics, however, warn the overhaul concentrates excessive power in one office and risks marginalising the air force and navy at a time of evolving multidomain threats.
