Pakistan Centralises Power Under 'Chief of Defence Forces' Asim Munir: News18 Accesses Notification | Exclusive

Last Updated:November 13, 2025, 18:49 IST

This major restructuring was formalised through the controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which was passed by the Assembly with a two-thirds majority

The 27th Amendment abolishes the long-standing office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), with its functions being absorbed into the new CDF post. File pic/AP

Pakistan has enacted a landmark shift in its military command structure, officially consolidating the authority of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) with the creation of the new post of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). CNN-News18 has accessed the official notification confirming that the incumbent Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, will assume this unified, supreme command.

This major restructuring was formalised through the controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which was passed by the Assembly with a two-thirds majority. The amendment fundamentally alters the chain of command, stipulating that all three service chiefs—of the Army, Navy, and Air Force—will now officially report directly to the Chief of Defence Forces, placing all operational and institutional command under a single apex authority.

The creation of the CDF role is seen as the final step in establishing a unified command structure, a necessity reportedly highlighted by the lessons drawn from the four-day conflict with India in May of this year and the increasing demand for integrated operational responses. To achieve this, the 27th Amendment abolishes the long-standing office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), with its functions being absorbed into the new CDF post.

Furthermore, the amendment grants unprecedented constitutional status to the military’s top leadership. It codifies the rank of Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force, and Admiral of the Fleet as lifetime designations, bestowing permanent privileges and, critically, lifelong legal immunity upon the holders of these five-star ranks, akin to the protection afforded to the President under Article 248. This measure has drawn severe criticism from opposition parties who argue it institutionalises military supremacy and shields the leadership from accountability.

The composition and formation of the CDF’s new office are expected to be fully detailed soon, but the constitutional changes already ensure that Field Marshal Munir holds the country’s senior-most uniformed authority, with a decisive role in strategic and nuclear command appointments.

News world Pakistan Centralises Power Under 'Chief of Defence Forces' Asim Munir: News18 Accesses Notification | Exclusive

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