Asim Munir empowered to hire, fire, retire armed forces under new Pak military law

Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir is set to wield sweeping authority over the country's armed forces under a new defence law. The legislation puts Pakistan's Army, Navy and Air Force under a unified command headed by Munir and gives him extensive powers over military operations, senior officers and personnel matters, including the authority to retire, discharge or retain personnel and alter prescribed retirement limits.The new command structure was created under last year's 27th Constitutional Amendment. It replaced the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee with a Chief of Defence Forces, a post held concurrently by Army chief Asim Munir.Pakistan's National Assembly on Thursday passed the Defence Forces of Pakistan Act, 2026 and amendments to the National Command Authority Act, 2010. The legislation is aimed at putting the new military hierarchy created by the constitutional changes into a legal framework. The legislation also provides for the creation of a Defence Forces Headquarters, which will serve as the central headquarters of Pakistan's armed forces under the CDF Munir.ASIM MUNIR GETS SWEEPING POWERS OVER MILITARYThe new structure places Munir at the top of Pakistan's unified military command. As CDF, Munir would exercise operational command and control over the armed forces, with the new framework designed to bring the Army, Navy and Air Force under a more closely integrated command.The draft says the CDF "shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as are necessary for multi-domain integration, operational cohesion, coordination and oversight of all matters which have joint, tri-services and strategic implications for the Armed Forces and national security of Pakistan". It also seeks to "ensure multi-domain integration, restructuring and optimum jointness of the Armed Forces". The proposed law also gives the CDF Munir extensive authority over personnel matters across the armed forces. According to the draft, the CDF can "retire, release, accept, or reject resignation of, or discharge from service, or retain in service, or relax age, or service limit of retirement" of personnel covered by the armed forces laws, subject to the exclusions specified in the legislation.The framework also allows the Pakistan government to assign additional responsibilities to the CDF."Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the CDF may exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as the Federal Government may prescribe," the draft states.That provision could give the government scope to expand the CDF’s responsibilities beyond those specifically listed in the legislation. The legislation also provides for executive directions and changes to rules and regulations to ensure that the new command structure can operate effectively.PAK PM'S 'PRINCIPAL MILITARY ADVISOR'The proposed law would give Munir responsibilities beyond military operations. The Defence Forces Headquarters would be under the CDF, who would serve as the Prime Minister's "principal military advisor" on national security, defence and matters concerning the armed forces.The CDF would also be "responsible" to the federal government for matters involving command and control. The President is given a significant role in resolving difficulties or inconsistencies that may emerge while implementing the new framework.In such circumstances, the draft says, the Pakistan President may "by an order, remove such difficulty".NEW NUCLEAR COMMAND STRUCTUREThe restructuring is not limited to the conventional military command. The 27th Constitutional Amendment also created the position of Commander of the National Strategic Command (CNSC), a four-star post responsible for the operational integration of Pakistan's strategic forces.Last month, Gen Syed Aamer Raza was promoted from lieutenant general and appointed as the first CNSC. The amendments to the National Command Authority Act are intended to bring Pakistan's strategic command arrangements in line with the constitutional changes.The Prime Minister's Office called the amendments "a necessary process" following the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif presented the legislation in the National Assembly, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif present in the lower house.- EndsWith inputs from PTIPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 20, 2026 22:16 IST