Law minister breaks silence on CDF notification delay

ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has said that the formal notification for the new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) — a post created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment — will be issued soon.

His statement came amid widespread speculation over the missed November 29 deadline.

Tarar told reporters that the delay is part of the official process and not a sign of instability. “The prime minister is not in the country. Once he returns, everything would 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.

Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the process for issuing the notification has already been initiated and will be completed “in due course.”

He dismissed speculation about indefinite delays as unfounded.

Why the delay matters

The CDF post replaces the now‑abolished office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), formally terminated on November 27. Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir is expected to serve as the first CDF in a dual-hatted role.

Although service chiefs’ tenures were extended to five years under a 2024 amendment to the Pakistan Army Act, legal and security experts say a fresh, public notification is required for the new post. Without it, some suggested Gen Munir’s three-year COAS tenure could be considered lapsed, though others cite the amendment’s “deeming clause” to argue otherwise.

Key uncertainties remain over the official start date of the CDF term — November 2022 (when Gen Munir became COAS) or November 2025 (the month the amendment passed) — and the scope of CDF authority over the Air Force and Navy.

Institutional concerns

The delay has reportedly caused discomfort within defence and civilian circles. It has also held up appointments for the new National Strategic Command (NSC), responsible for nuclear and strategic operations previously under the CJCSC. Security sources say these appointments will likely follow only after the CDF notification is issued.

Both ministers have assured the nation that the notification will be issued soon, with Khawaja Asif noting on social media that the file has been submitted and is awaiting the final green light.