Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir’s term has officially ended

Government has still not issued the notification appointing him Chief of Defence Forces (Head of all three armed services)

Islamabad (Pakistan) – Through the 27th Constitutional Amendment, Pakistan appointed Army Chief General Asim Munir as the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF)—the unified head of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. However, the official notification for this appointment has still not been released. The order was expected to be issued by 29 November, but since this has not happened, Munir is considered technically retired. The primary reason for the delay is that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is not present in the country—he is currently in London.

According to media reports, Shehbaz Sharif deliberately removed himself from the process to avoid signing the extension order for Asim Munir or approving his appointment as CDF. Once appointed, Munir would gain control over Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

Notification process has started: Defence Minister

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif posted on X that the process to issue the CDF notification has begun and it will be released soon.

Munir could do anything: Tilak Devasher

Former member of India’s National Security Advisory Board Tilak Devasher commented that Shehbaz Sharif has done this deliberately. He warned that Asim Munir may try to create tension with India to demonstrate his power. Devesher added, “It is not officially clear whether Munir is still the Army Chief. Regardless, he has enough influence to do anything. Pakistan itself has no certainty about who its Army Chief currently is. If Munir decides to exert pressure on India or instigate any incident, the situation could become extremely dangerous.”

Deal between Munir and Shehbaz Sharif: Condition to ‘finish off’ Imran Khan

In Pakistan, it is being claimed that in return for appointing Asim Munir as the head of all three defence forces, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former PM Nawaz Sharif (who lives in London) struck a deal with Munir. Under this alleged agreement, Munir would be given leadership of the three forces only if he works to remove former Prime Minister Imran Khan—from politics, from the country, or by any other means, ‘eliminate’ him from the political landscape. This has fueled speculation about whether Imran Khan is even alive, as no one is being allowed to meet him in prison. Protests are ongoing, demanding proof of his wellbeing.