Pakistan Army Chief Syed Asim Munir is set for another promotion, the second this year. According to a Dawn report, Munir is likely to take up the newly created role of Chief of Defense Forces as part of Pakistan’s proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Days after the India-Pakistan conflict in May, Munir was promoted to Field Marshal by the Pakistani government.
According to the report, the draft amendment was approved by Pakistan’s Cabinet and on Saturday was submitted to the Senate, which forwarded it to the National Assembly and Senate Standing Committees on Law and Justice for joint review.
During the discussions, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar reportedly clarified that the office of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCSC) will be abolished from November 27 once the tenure of the current holder ends.
The office is currently held by Pakistani General Sahir Shamshad Mirza.
Referring to Mirza as a “hero”, Tarar clarified that Parliament could not even consider removing him from the role during his tenure. “It will be canceled after his appointment ends.”
Tarar said that no new appointments will be made to the position as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) will assume the role of Chief of Defense Forces, consolidating the high command structure under Munir.
The Law Minister explained that the bill also formally recognizes General Munir’s title of Field Marshal, describing it as “a title, not a rank, not an appointment as such”.
He noted that the title is honorary and lifetime, similar to honors such as air marshal or fleet admiral in other countries.
“If the federal government promotes a member of the armed forces to the rank of field marshal, air marshal or fleet admiral, that officer shall retain rank, privileges and remain in uniform for life,” the minister added while reading from the bill.
He further said that it was made clear that only the Parliament and not the Prime Minister would have the power to remove or cancel the title.
According to a Dawn report, quoting the law minister, the prime minister would not have the power to remove or cancel the title of field marshal; this power would rest only with the Parliament of Pakistan.
The proposed amendment also sparked a political debate.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has said it supports the amendments to Article 243 relating to the armed forces, but opposes any abrogation of provincial autonomy under the 18th Amendment.
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have also criticized the bill, with PTI calling it an “attack on Parliament”, Dawn reported.
According to a Dawn report, the joint Judiciary Committees of both houses are scheduled to meet again on Sunday to continue discussions on the proposed amendment.
