- COAS Munir speaks to journalists at Awain-e-Sadar.
- Things are moving towards improvement: Field Marshal.
- PM approves summary for Munir’s appointment as CDF.
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir said on Thursday that, from here onwards, Pakistan would soar to greater heights.
“Everything is fine; it’s all in front of you. Things are moving towards improvement, and Pakistan will now soar to greater heights from here,” he told journalists during an informal conversation at the Awain-e-Sadar in Islamabad.
His remarks come shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif forwarded a summary to President Asif Ali Zardari recommending the COAS Munir’s appointment as Pakistan’s first chief of defence forces (CDF).
The prime minister today approved the summary for the appointment of Field Marshal Munir “as the chief of army staff and the chief of defence forces”, and then referred it to the President House, said a press release by the PM Office (PMO).
Field Marshal Munir’s appointment for both roles is for a period of five years, the statement said.
PM Shehbaz also approved a two-year extension in the tenure of Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, which will take effect upon the completion of his current five-year tenure in March 2026, the PMO added.
Later, the president approved the summary.
Earlier in the day, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the notification for Pakistan’s first CDF appointment would be issued “at any moment”, stressing that it was already in process.
“It is in process and at the moment, the notification or whatever necessary steps […] will be in front of you soon. I want to urge that there should be no speculations over it […] and there’s no political disconnect on this,” the minister told reporters in Islamabad.
Moreover, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, while speaking to Geo News today, said that the CDF is going to become an extremely important institution in terms of national security. He noted that the law was amended for the post of Chief of Defence Forces.
The prime minister’s adviser said that regulations and rules for the CDF are yet to be framed and that great caution is required for the CDF’s rules.
Sanaullah said that speculation regarding delays in the CDF notification is baseless. He said that linking the CDF notification with anything is not appropriate.
While rumours persist regarding the CDF’s notification, Dr Tauqir Shah, a close aide to the prime minister, categorically rejected speculation about alleged cracks between the civil and military leadership, calling such claims “baseless” and “misleading”.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had also rebuffed widespread speculation regarding the delay in issuance of the notification, saying that creation of a new system cannot be done simply by “pressing a button”.
Similarly, last week, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had also dismissed speculation about a notification for the appointment of the CDF, saying the announcement will be made in due time.
