Islamabad, November 13, 2025: The tenure of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir will restart once he formally assumes charge as the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), according to a bill presented in the National Assembly on Thursday.
The legislation, introduced by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, seeks to amend the Pakistan Army Act, alongside similar amendments to the Navy and Air Force Acts, following approval by the federal cabinet.
Speaking on the floor of the house, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar clarified that the CDF’s term would be five years from the date of appointment. He said the move was designed to streamline command structures and ensure enhanced inter-service coordination.
The bill specifies that the COAS, concurrently serving as the Chief of the Defence Forces under Article 243 of the Constitution, will have his tenure recommence from the date of notification of the CDF appointment.
It further states, “Once the notification of the first appointment of the Chief of the Army Staff and the Chief of the Defence Forces is issued, the existing tenure of the incumbent COAS shall be deemed to have recommenced from the date of such notification.”
Under the new framework, the government will define the functions, duties, and responsibilities of the COAS and CDF — including oversight of multi-domain integration, restructuring, and achieving optimum jointness among the armed forces.
Additionally, on the recommendation of the CDF, the Prime Minister will appoint the National Strategic Command (NSC) Commander, who may be reappointed for a three-year term.
The amended act also empowers the army chief to appoint a Vice Chief of Army Staff or Deputy Chief of Army Staff, depending on institutional requirements.
One of the most significant provisions of the proposed amendment is the abolition of the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), effective November 27, marking a major structural change in Pakistan’s military command hierarchy.
