ISLAMABAD (MNN); Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Monday that the official notification appointing Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) will be issued within days, confirming that he is already functioning in the role in all practical terms.
The newly created CDF post, introduced under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, replaces the former office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) — which formally ceased to exist on November 27. The position now merges the CJCSC’s role with that of the army chief, making it the highest defence command position in the country.
Speaking at the Pakistan National Arts Council, the law minister reiterated that the process is underway and there is nothing to be concerned about. Tarar noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif — currently in London and expected to return today — would oversee the final approval.
He explained that the notification falls under the defence ministry’s domain, which must coordinate with the Prime Minister’s Office to complete documentation.
The transition to the restructured defence system has faced some delay. The CDF notification was widely expected to coincide with the abolition of the CJCSC post, while November 29 was regarded as an important date — marking the end of the original three-year tenure of the army chief prior to extension.
Officials say the notification lag has caused discomfort within the top military echelons and complicated the shift to the new defence architecture. Another key appointment — Commander of the National Strategic Command (NSC), a new four-star post set to manage Pakistan’s nuclear programme — also remains pending and is likely to be finalised only after the CDF notification.
Further legislation is still required, as amendments to the National Command Authority (NCA) Act must reflect the removal of the CJCSC and formalise the CDF and NSC structures under Article 243. Complexities remain regarding how the new framework will align with the roles of the Pakistan Navy and Air Force chiefs, and whether both service heads will continue representation in the NCA under the unified strategic command.
