Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday formally asked President Asif Ali Zardari to appoint Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir as the first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of Pakistan.
Last month, the parliament passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment providing for the creation of the post of CDF with the objective of creating unity of command and expedite decision-making in any critical situation.
The CDF replaced the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), the post for which was abolished.
According to a statement by the PM Office, the prime minister approved the summary for the appointment of Field Marshal Munir as the army chief and the CDF, and then referred it to the President’s House.
After approval by the president, the COAS would also become the CDF as the changes in the constitution vested the dual authority in the same person.
The appointment will be for five years.
Field Marshal Munir was appointed as COAS in November 2022 initially for three years, but his tenure was extended for five years in 2024.
The statement from the prime minister’s office further stated that Sharif also approved a two-year extension in the tenure of Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu. This extension will be applicable on completion of his current five-year tenure in March 2026.
The decision to issue a formal notification has put to rest rumours regarding the delay in the appointment of the CDF, which has due vacant since November 27, when the last CJCSC General Sahir Shamshad Mirza retired.
Earlier, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, addressing a press conference, had said that there was no legal or political obstacle regarding the notification of the appointment of the Chief of Defence Forces, and this notification would be issued soon.