Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated on Sunday that the notification for the appointment of Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) would be issued “in due course of time,” confirming that the process has already begun.
In a post on social media platform X, Asif wrote: “Please be informed that the process has been initiated. PM is returning shortly. Notification will be issued in due course of time.”
The CDF role, created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, replaces the previously existing office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), which formally ended on November 27. The position is dual-hatted, combining the responsibilities of the army chief with those of the CDF.
While many had anticipated that the notification would coincide with the abolition of the CJCSC post, the November 29 deadline—marking the end of the three-year tenure of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir—passed without any official announcement.
Legal experts note that, while a 2024 amendment to the Pakistan Army Act extended service chiefs’ tenures to five years, the creation of the CDF post still requires a formal notification, as it represents a new assignment rather than a continuation of the COAS role.
Government sources indicate that the notification is expected once Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returns from London, where he is reportedly undergoing medical check-ups. Pending decisions include the formal assignment of the CDF role to Field Marshal Munir and the appointment of the National Strategic Command commander, a new four-star position responsible for nuclear management previously under the CJCSC.
Security officials suggest that the delay reflects ongoing deliberations over operational authority of the CDF over the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy, as well as the official start date for Munir’s five-year tenure.
The government’s rapid passage of the 27th Amendment was intended to restructure Pakistan’s defence hierarchy efficiently, but the notification delay has added complexity to the transition, highlighting the sensitivity and importance of the new defence framework.
