Daily Times

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that Army Chief General Asim Munir will serve until 2027 following the recent approval of amendments to the Army Act. Asif highlighted that this legislative change would benefit democratic governments by setting fixed terms and eliminating the need for parliamentary approval for extensions. Speaking with a private television channel, Asif confirmed that General Munir’s role as the country’s army chief will continue uninterrupted until 2027. “Previously, several army chiefs were granted extensions, which required parliamentary endorsement,” he explained, noting that the new amendment effectively closes this chapter on term extensions. When asked about rumours of any deal involving the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Asif dismissed them, stating, “I’ve only heard it from you.” He added that Pakistan’s future progress depends on self-improvement, steering the conversation toward broader governance reforms. Asif declined to comment on matters concerning Bushra Bibi, the spouse of the PTI founder, saying only, “I have no comment on her whereabouts or activities.” The amendment to the Army Act, which solidifies the terms for top military roles, aims to bring continuity and stability to Pakistan’s governance by reducing dependency on ad-hoc tenure extensions.