ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has assured that the formal notification for the newly created post of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) will be issued soon, urging the public and media to avoid unnecessary speculation regarding the delay.
His remarks came as debate intensified over the missed November 29 deadline — the date many believed would mark the formal transition to the CDF system introduced under the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Speaking to reporters, Tarar stated that the delay was procedural rather than political. “The prime minister is not in the country. Once he returns, everything will be finalised. It is possible the file work has already been completed, and the Ministry of Defence will proceed after coordination with the Prime Minister’s Office,” he said.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif echoed these assurances earlier, saying the notification process had already been initiated and would be completed “in due course.” He dismissed speculation of an indefinite hold-up as baseless.
Why the Delay Matters
The CDF post replaces the abolished office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), which formally ceased to exist on November 27. Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir is expected to assume the new four-star role in addition to serving as COAS.
Although the tenures of all service chiefs were extended to five years under a 2024 amendment to the Pakistan Army Act, legal experts note that a fresh public notification is still required to formalize the CDF appointment. The absence of such a notification has triggered debate, with some analysts suggesting that Gen Munir’s three-year COAS tenure technically lapsed — while others argue that the amendment’s “deeming clause” ensures continuity.
Questions also persist about the official commencement date of the CDF tenure. Some argue it should align with Gen Munir’s appointment as COAS in November 2022, while others point to November 2025, when the constitutional amendment creating the CDF post was enacted. The extent of the new office’s authority over the Air Force and Navy also remains under review.
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Institutional Concerns
The delay in issuing the notification has reportedly caused unease within defence and civilian bureaucracies. It has also temporarily stalled appointments to the new National Strategic Command (NSC), which will oversee Pakistan’s nuclear and strategic operations — responsibilities previously under the CJCSC.
Security officials say these high-level appointments will move forward only after the CDF notification is finalized.
Both the law and defence ministers have reiterated that the process is on track. Khawaja Asif noted on social media that the relevant file had already been submitted and is now awaiting the prime minister’s approval.
Officials maintain that once the prime minister returns and completes the necessary procedural review, the notification will be issued without further delay.
