Asim Munir’s Expanding Powers Raise Questions Over Pakistan’s Military Rule

Pakistan’s Parliament has passed two laws reshaping the military command structure, giving Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir broad authority while raising fresh questions over the balance between civilian and military power.

Parliament Approves Military Laws

Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate have passed two major pieces of legislation covering the country’s military and strategic command structure. The Defence Forces of Pakistan Act, 2026, and the National Command Authority (Amendment) Act, 2026, were approved on Thursday.

The legislation follows the 27th Constitutional Amendment passed in November 2025, which abolished the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and created the post of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

Field Marshal Asim Munir, who is also Pakistan’s Army Chief, became the country’s first CDF.

Munir Gets Unified Command

The new defence law formally establishes the CDF’s command and control over Pakistan’s Army, Navy and Air Force.

The legislation gives the CDF responsibility for operational coordination, military organisation, training, administration and integration across the three services. It also provides the office with powers to issue directives and orders concerning military affairs.

This represents a major change from Pakistan’s earlier military structure, where the individual service chiefs operated within a more distinct command arrangement.

The Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs will continue to exist, but the new framework places the CDF at the centre of the unified operational command.

Personnel Powers Draw Attention

One of the most significant aspects of the new framework is the CDF’s authority over personnel matters.

Reports on the legislation say the CDF can retire, release, discharge, accept or reject resignations and retain personnel in service, as well as relax prescribed age or service limits in specified circumstances.

That has prompted descriptions of Munir effectively gaining the ability to “hire, fire and retire” members of the armed forces.

However, the legislation does not give the CDF unrestricted authority over every senior military appointment. Certain constitutional appointments, including the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs, remain governed by Article 243 and presidential appointment on the prime minister’s advice.

Strategic Command Gets New Head

The second law updates Pakistan’s National Command Authority framework to reflect the country's revised military hierarchy.

The legislation provides for the Commander of the National Strategic Command, a four-star position responsible for the operational integration of Pakistan’s strategic forces. General Syed Aamer Raza has been appointed to the newly created command.

The National Command Authority remains a key institution in Pakistan’s strategic and nuclear decision-making structure. The prime minister continues to chair the authority, meaning the new legislation does not formally transfer ultimate nuclear policy authority to Munir personally.

Opposition Objects To Process

The legislation was passed amid political controversy.

Opposition lawmakers walked out of the National Assembly during the proceedings, objecting to the manner and speed with which the bills were introduced. The Pakistan Peoples Party, despite being an ally of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, also raised objections over the parliamentary process.

The government has described the legislation as necessary to implement the military command changes introduced by the 27th Amendment.

The National Assembly’s official legislative record confirms that both the Defence Forces of Pakistan Bill, 2026, and the National Command Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026, were passed by the House.

Civil-Military Balance Questioned

The expanded role of the CDF has renewed debate over Pakistan’s civil-military balance.

The new law also makes the CDF a principal military adviser to the prime minister on defence, national security and armed forces matters. That gives the military leadership an institutionalised role in major security decisions beyond the conventional chain of command.

Supporters of the legislation argue that a unified command can improve coordination between Pakistan’s three armed services and strengthen strategic decision-making.

Critics, however, see the concentration of military authority in a single office as another step towards weakening civilian oversight.

Is Pakistan Moving Toward Rule?

Whether Pakistan is “returning to military rule” is ultimately a political judgement, and the latest legislation does not itself abolish civilian government.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remains the head of government, while parliament continues to legislate and the prime minister retains important constitutional powers over senior military appointments and the National Command Authority.

At the same time, the institutional position of Munir has become considerably stronger. He now combines the Army Chief and Chief of Defence Forces positions and sits at the centre of Pakistan’s unified military command.

The latest laws therefore mark an important shift in Pakistan’s civil-military architecture. Rather than proving that the country has formally returned to direct military rule, they demonstrate how extensively military authority has been consolidated within the existing constitutional framework.