Defence Minister responds Chief of Defence Forces notification pandemonium
ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif sought to quell speculation over the appointment of Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) on Sunday, saying the process has been initiated and the notification will be issued at the appropriate time.
Khawaja Asif said that that unnecessary rumours are being circulated regarding the timing of the CDF notification. He also confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to return soon, and key decisions regarding the new post will follow.
The CDF position, created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, replaces the former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) role, which was abolished on November 27. While the original tenure of Army Chief Field Marshal General Asim Munir officially ended on November 29, legal amendments extending service chiefs’ terms to five years mean there is no immediate lapse in his tenure.
Officials note that a formal notification is still required to assign the dual-hatted role of CDF to FM Munir, a step distinct from the automatic extensions recently granted to other service chiefs. Security sources say the delay reflects ongoing deliberations over the start date of the CDF term and the scope of operational authority over the Air Force and Navy.
The issuance of the CDF notification is also expected to precede the appointment of the National Strategic Command commander, a newly created four-star role that will oversee the country’s nuclear assets under the restructured defense framework.