President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday approved a summary moved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointing Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) in accordance with the recently enacted 27th Amendment to the Constitution.
According to the notification, the field marshal would concurrently serve as both CDF and Chief of Army Staff for five years, with his tenure slated to end in 2030.
Also on Thursday, the president approved a two-year extension in the tenure of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu. The extension would come into effect once his ongoing five-year term concludes in March 2026, effectively ending his tenure in 2028.
In a statement, the President’s Secretariat said he had extended “best wishes to the COAS, concurrently the Chief of Defense Forces” and the Pakistan Air Force chief for their successful tenures.
Last month, the 27th Amendment abolished the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff with the retirement of General Sahir Shamshad Mirza (ret.), who was the last official to serve in the post. It has been replaced by the Commander of the National Strategic Command, who would appointed by the prime minister on the basis of recommendations by the CDF from among serving Army generals for a three-year term.
The president also approved the Pakistan Army, Air Force, and Navy (Amendment) Bills, 2025, after their approval by Parliament. Under the amended provisions, Article 243, governing the powers and responsibilities of a Field Marshal, would also apply to any general promoted to the rank.
It said the federal government may authorize the Vice Chief of Army Staff or Deputy Chief of Army Staff to exercise the powers of the COAS under written orders issued on the recommendation of the CDF. It also made clear that the first notification for the dual office of COAS and CDF would mark the recommencement of the tenure of the incumbent COAS.
Modern requirements
In a statement issued following the president’s approval of his summary, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended his best wishes to the field marshal. He said the appointment was “fully aligned with contemporary and modern warfare requirements,” expressing optimism it would further strengthen the country’s defense.
He recalled that the armed forces, under Field Marshal Munir’s leadership, had inflicted a “humiliating defeat” on the enemy, noting the “remarkable success in Marka-e-Haq raised Pakistan’s global standing.”
Sharif also congratulated Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu on receiving a two-year extension in service, noting that under his command the PAF destroyed hostile fighter aircraft and “established overwhelming dominance” during the four-day war with India in May.
The prime minister stressed that national institutions would continue working together for Pakistan’s defense, development and prosperity, adding the country’s security would be made “impregnable through collective effort.”
The appointment of the CDF was a matter of great debate for the past week, as critics questioned the delay in the notification following the Nov. 27 retirement of Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza. Several government officials, including Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, rubbished the speculation, maintaining the notification would follow in due course.
In a seeming dismissal of the rumor mill, the Army chief told journalists “everything is fine” during an informal interaction at the President’s House in Islamabad. “Things are moving towards improvement, and Pakistan will now soar to greater heights from here,” he added shortly before the president approved his appointment.