Govt yet to issue Chief of Defence Forces notification as deadline passes

The government’s failure to issue a notification regarding the appointment of the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) has sparked debate as the key deadline of November 29 has already passed.

The new post, created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, merges with the office of the army chief and replaces the now-abolished Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).

The CJCSC position legally ceased to exist on November 27, and many expected the CDF appointment to follow immediately.

According to media reports, officials and defence observers anticipated that the notification establishing the CDF under the restructured military framework would be issued as soon as the CJCSC office lapsed.

November 29 date was important because it marked the completion of the initial three-year tenure of Field Marshal Asim Munir, serving as Army Chief.

Some legal experts warned that, without a fresh notification, the Army Chief’s tenure might technically be viewed as having ended.

However, amendments to the Pakistan Army Act in 2024 extended the service terms of all service chiefs to five years.

As the government remains silent, questions continue to grow over the timing, political considerations, and legal mechanics surrounding Pakistan’s transition to the new CDF system.