Pakistan’s military, under the leadership of Army Chief Asim Munir, has expanded its reach into the judiciary, economy, and political sphere through a series of legal changes and constitutional amendments over the past two years, according to a report by the online magazine American Thinker. The Defense Forces of Pakistan Act, passed on August 20, 2026, amidst an opposition walkout, grants the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) full operational command over the armed forces, covering organization, administration, readiness, joint operations, and personnel matters. Because Munir concurrently holds the CDF position alongside his role as Chief of Army Staff, the law consolidates command of all three services under a single office.
Timeline of Ranks and Constitutional Amendments:
Munir originally assumed office as Army Chief in November 2022 on a three-year tenure, which parliament extended to five years in November 2024 before elevating him to a five-star Field Marshal on May 20, 2025. However, the constitutional modifications that followed held greater significance than the rank itself. The 27th Amendment, passed in November 2025, formally established the CDF post and mandated that it be held concurrently by the army chief, elevating him above the naval and air chiefs. British think tank Chatham House described these expanded powers as “unprecedented,” noting the CDF’s seniority, lifetime immunity, and stringent removal hurdles.
Economic Role and Civil Liberties Crackdown:
The military’s institutional footprint has similarly extended into economic governance through the Special Investment Facilitation Council, established in 2023, which features the Army Chief on its Apex Committee and a serving officer as National Coordinator to prioritize investments. While Munir directly engages with foreign investors and Gulf leaders, State Bank data indicates that foreign direct investment dropped by 34 percent in FY2025–26 to $1.637 billion. Concurrently, human rights advocacy groups have documented heightened internal repression: Human Rights Watch reported escalating restrictions in 2025, an August 2026 joint appeal led by Amnesty International highlighted targeted crackdowns on journalists and lawyers alongside prolonged internet shutdowns in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, and Freedom House warned in March 2026 of transnational repression, including life sentences handed down in absentia to exiled dissidents and journalists.
