Field Marshal Asim Munir, former Pakistan Army Chief, has been appointed Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), the newly created top military post in the country. The Pakistan President’s Office issued an official notification confirming the appointment shortly after Munir completed his tenure as Army Chief on November 29.
The CDF position was introduced through the 27th Constitutional Amendment as part of the government’s plan to unify the Army, Navy and Air Force under a single command structure. According to the presidential statement, President Asif Ali Zardari approved Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recommendation to appoint Munir as the first CDF. The term of the position will extend for five years.
Earlier this year, Asim Munir was conferred the rare and highest military rank of Field Marshal, becoming only the second figure in Pakistan’s history to receive the honour after General Ayub Khan. With his elevation as CDF, Munir is now considered the most powerful person in the country and will enjoy presidential-level legal immunity, protecting him from prosecution throughout his tenure.
The appointment comes amid earlier speculation of rifts between the government and the military, with reports suggesting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was intentionally delaying the decision. However, the formal notification announcing Munir as CDF has put an end to all such rumours, marking one of the most significant developments in Pakistan’s recent military and political landscape.