Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday sent a summary to President Asif Ali Zardari recommending the appointment of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
The new CDF position, created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, replaces the now-abolished office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), which formally ended on November 27. The post will be dual-hatted, combining the roles of army chief and CDF.
According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Field Marshal Munir’s appointment for both roles is set for a five-year term. The PM approved the summary and referred it to the President for final approval.
In addition, PM Shehbaz approved a two-year extension in the tenure of Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, which will take effect after his current five-year term concludes in March 2026. ACM Sidhu was initially appointed in March 2021 and granted a one-year extension in 2024.
Officials had anticipated the CDF notification to coincide with the abolition of the CJCSC post on November 27. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had previously stated the notification would be issued “in due course of time,” urging the public to avoid speculation. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar later confirmed the notification would follow shortly, noting coordination with the PMO was required.
The transition to the new defence framework also involves pending appointments, including the commander of the National Strategic Command (NSC), a new four-star post overseeing nuclear assets previously managed by the CJCSC. The NSC commander will be appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the CDF, as per the amended Article 243 of the Constitution.
Further amendments to the National Command Authority Act are expected to address the restructuring, particularly regarding the roles of Pakistan Air Force and Navy chiefs and their representation in the NCA under the unified command of the CDF and NSC commander. The government is taking careful steps to ensure a smooth transition while formalizing Pakistan’s restructured higher-defence framework.
