CDF’s appointment: Defence minister says notification to be issued soon

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday dismissed speculation surrounding the delay in issuing the notification for the appointment of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), saying that the process is underway and the announcement will be made soon.

The government introduced the CDF post through the 27th Constitutional Amendment earlier this month.

In a post on X, Asif said there was “unnecessary and irresponsible speculation” regarding the CDF notification. “Please be informed that the process has been initiated. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is returning shortly,” he said, adding that the notification would be issued “in due course of time.” The minister stressed that there was “no room for any conjecturing.”

The CDF position, created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, replaced the now-abolished office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), which formally ended on Nov 27. Asif’s remarks came amid questions over why the government had not yet released the formal notification, despite the recent restructuring of the military command system through new legislation.

President Asif Ali Zardari signed the Army, Air Force and Navy Amendment Bills on November 15 after their approval by parliament, enabling major changes in the command structure of the armed forces.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025