Asim Munir more powerful than ever? Pakistan gives new role to army chief months after Op Sindoor

The new amendment not only formalises Munir’s elevation to Field Marshal but also grants him lifetime privileges and uniformed status.

Months after its military setbacks against India earlier this year, Pakistan’s government on Saturday introduced the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, paving the way for Army Chief General Asim Munir to assume the newly created post of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

The bill, tabled in the Senate by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, seeks to amend Article 243 of the Constitution to centralise command of the Army, Navy, and Air Force under one authority.

Under the proposal, the President will appoint both the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the Chief of Defence Forces on the advice of the Prime Minister. The CDF, to be held concurrently by the Army Chief, will oversee all tri-service operations, placing the entire military structure under Munir’s control.

The legislation also abolishes the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) post after the incumbent, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, retires this November.

Notably, the major restructuring comes just months after the Indian military's Operation Sindoor, which exposed deep flaws in Pakistan’s military coordination.

Between May 7 and May 10, Indian armed forces carried out targeted strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled areas, destroying multiple radar systems, runways, and command centres, and damaging several F-16 fighter jets.

The strikes forced Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to reach out to his Indian counterpart, pleading for an end to hostilities.

It should also be mentioned here that, soon after the conflict, Islamabad had hastily promoted General Asim Munir to Field Marshal, only the second in Pakistan’s history, and began drafting reforms to consolidate military power under one leader, ostensibly to improve “coordination” in future confrontations.

The new amendment not only formalises Munir’s elevation to Field Marshal but also grants him lifetime privileges and uniformed status.

As per Pakistani Law Minister Tarar, the title is honorary and can only be revoked by Parliament, not the Prime Minister, a clause that effectively insulates Munir’s position from political oversight, states a report by Dawn.

Once enacted, the amendment will make Munir Pakistan’s most powerful military figure, combining his roles as Army Chief, Chief of Defence Forces, and Field Marshal, further tightening the military’s grip on the country’s power structure.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a cabinet meeting via video link from Azerbaijan, where the bill was swiftly approved before being tabled in the Senate.

Opposition parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), have reportedly slammed the Pakistani government for rushing the bill through Parliament, calling it an attempt to strengthen military dominance.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) offered partial support for the defence-related clauses but warned against rolling back provincial autonomy protected under the 18th Amendment.