In a decision likely to have wide-ranging implications for democracy in the country, Pakistan Thursday extended army chief Asim Munir’s role with new powers by five years.
President Asif Ali Zardari, the constitutional head of the country, approved a notification of appointment for army chief’s new role as chief of defense forces.
The notification was processed by the office of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government is seen to have ceded powers to the military establishment in what political commentators term a hybrid form of governance.
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The unprecedented structural changes in the command of the military leadership make Field Marshal Asim Munir Chief of Defense Forces, with Pakistan’s Air Force and Navy also coming under his command.
As such, Asim Munir is Pakistan’s first Chief of Defense Forces.
The new role takes shape through the recently passed 27th amendment to the constitution, a move which critics say undermines accountability and democratic governance.
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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk last week noted that Pakistan’s “hastily adopted” amendment seriously undermines judicial independence and raises grave concerns about military accountability and respect for the rule of law.
Significantly, the amendment provides lifelong immunity to the army leader from any legal challenge.
While the current government that came to power as a result of controversial elections in February 2024 appears to have worked in tandem with the military establishment, approval of the notification faced an unexplained delay after army chief’s former position concluded on November 29, 2025.
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Pakistan’s army commander Asim Munir has grown in power and stature this year after the armed forces beat back an Indian attack in May and inflicted heavy losses on Indian air force
U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Asim Munir for White House talks on two separate occasions over the summer, including a joint meeting with both the prime minister and the army chief in September.
Meanwhile, human rights bodies say democratic freedoms in Pakistan have eroded as the Opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf is barred from holding rallies and protest demonstrations while its founder and former prime minister Imran Khan remains incarcerated for more than two years on dubious corruption charges.
Asim Tanveer is a seasoned journalist working for TV and electronic and print media outlets. He has been working for some of the world’s leading news organizations including Associated Press (AP), Reuters, BBC, CNN, CNBC, Star TV, Voice of America and The New York Times for more than 30 years. He has won several awards for his live coverage of events that include a Reuters News Agency World Award and the Pride of Performance award in 1997.
