Washington: Field Marshal Asim Munir is poised to further strengthen his authority in Pakistan, with the creation of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) role under the recently approved 27th Constitutional Amendment, a development seen as bringing the country closer to direct military rule, according to a report.
The new position grants Munir command over Pakistan’s army, navy and air force, while also providing lifelong immunity from legal prosecution. The amendment was passed by Pakistan’s parliament earlier this month.
A report published by The Christian Science Monitor noted that the shift represents a familiar pattern in Pakistan’s political trajectory. The country has alternated between military and civilian rule since 1947, with the military directly governing for 33 years and exerting significant influence behind the scenes during the remaining period.
The report stated that under Munir’s leadership, the military has played a decisive role in shaping political outcomes, including influencing elections and launching a sweeping crackdown on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the nation’s most popular political party. Former Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan remains imprisoned.
The army also gained renewed public support earlier this year following heightened tensions with India. “What we’re witnessing now,” historian Ayesha Jalal was quoted as saying, “is a military, which has been strong, becoming even stronger.”
Analysts cited in the report traced the military’s entrenched political role back to Pakistan’s early years. After the 1947 Partition, Punjab — forming a major portion of Pakistan — saw the armed forces overshadow the migrant-dominated civilian leadership. The trend persisted through decades, including the era of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.
Following Musharraf’s exit, rival political parties — the PML-N and PPP — collectively agreed to resist future military interference. Pakistan achieved its first democratic transition between elected governments in 2013. However, the report said the military subsequently boosted Imran Khan as an alternative force, aiding his rise to power before orchestrating his removal through a no-confidence motion in 2022 when relations deteriorated.
Under the new constitutional framework, Munir will receive an additional five-year extension, control over Pakistan’s nuclear assets, and protections shielding him from prosecution throughout his lifetime, the report added.
