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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Field Marshal Asim Munir will serve a five-year term as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defense Forces (CDF).
His tenure will formally begin once the appointment is notified, according to amendments passed by the National Assembly.
The lower house approved changes to the Pakistan Army Act, Pakistan Air Force Act, and Pakistan Navy Ordinance, clearing the legal pathway for the CDF post, new senior ranks, and a restructured command system across the armed forces. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif presented the amendment bills, all of which sailed through with a majority vote.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the House that the CDF will hold office for a term of five years from the date of appointment, and the role will be held concurrently by the Chief of Army Staff. If a serving General is elevated to Field Marshal, he will continue to perform responsibilities assigned under the amended law.
Tarar also pointed out that changes were made to harmonize service laws with the updated constitutional framework, including the formal recognition of three honorary ranks: Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force, and Admiral of the Fleet. He added that the Ministry of Defense had forwarded multiple summaries to support these changes, all of which were approved by the cabinet earlier in the day.
The House also passed amendments related to the newly formed Constitutional Court, where the Chief Justice will be the first appointee.
One of the major shifts outlined in the legislation is the abolition of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. This office will cease to exist on November 27, 2025. In its place, a new post, the Commander National Strategic Command, will be created.
The prime minister will appoint the Commander for a three-year term, based on joint recommendations from the COAS and CDF. The commander’s tenure can be extended once for another three years, and all decisions regarding appointment or extension will remain outside the scope of judicial review.
The legislation also shields the Commander from the usual retirement and service-limit clauses of the Army Act. He will continue to hold the rank of General while carrying out his responsibilities at the Strategic Command.
These amendments were approved by the federal cabinet earlier in the day during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Parliament House. The cabinet backed the creation of the CDF post, the phasing out of the JCSC position once the current chairman retires, and the introduction of the new higher ranks across the three services.
Cabinet members also cleared the draft of the Federal Constitutional Court (Procedure and Practice) Act, 2025, and ratified decisions made by the Economic Coordination Committee on November 7.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the legislative steps were part of the follow-through required after the constitutional changes, noting that equivalent senior ranks had been introduced for the Air Force and Navy.
After completing the day’s agenda, the National Assembly adjourned its session until 11 am on Friday.
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