NATIONAL NEWS
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has approved Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recommendation to appoint Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first-ever Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), marking a significant development in the country’s military leadership structure.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the president also endorsed a two-year extension for Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu and conveyed his best wishes to both officers.
The new appointment grants Field Marshal Asim Munir a five-year tenure, during which he will serve concurrently as Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces. This dual role is being implemented for the first time in Pakistan’s history.
In a parallel decision, the prime minister has approved the extension of Air Chief Marshal Sidhu’s term, which will take effect after the completion of his current tenure in March 2026.
The announcement follows days of speculation surrounding the CDF post. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar dismissed the concerns, saying the delay in issuing the notification was simply due to the prime minister’s foreign travel. He described the public debate as unnecessary, adding that all legal procedures under Article 243 and relevant service laws were clear and fully followed.
Tarar explained that legislative amendments introduced in 2024 extended the Army Chief’s tenure from three to five years, with a single notification now encompassing both the COAS and the CDF portfolios. Instructions pertaining to these changes have already been communicated to the Ministry of Defence.
During a joint press briefing, Law Minister Tarar and Information Minister Atta Tarar also addressed issues related to PTI founder Imran Khan’s meetings in prison. They reiterated that Khan, being a convicted inmate, can receive visitors only once a week and no more than six at a time, as per Rule 265 of the prison manual. They emphasized that political conversations and public statements regarding these meetings are strictly prohibited.
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