Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that, in his view, the role of Commander of Defence Forces (CDF) will remain with the Army even after the proposed constitutional amendment. He explained that the amendment has yet to be approved and could undergo further changes. He emphasized that judicial transfers will not involve the government, as the process will fall entirely within the judiciary’s domain.
Speaking in a private TV interview, the minister noted that the Supreme Court currently has nearly 55,000 pending cases, with less than 15 percent being constitutional in nature. He said the proposed Constitutional Court would not hear regular civil or criminal cases. He added that several countries operate such courts, and even the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) previously supported the idea. Khawaja Asif reiterated that judicial transfers will be decided by a commission that includes opposition members, and neither the prime minister nor any bureaucrat will intervene.
The minister further stated that the CDF position is expected to remain under the Army, while the operational authority of the Navy and Air Force will continue to rest with their respective chiefs. He said major strategic or wartime decisions require joint consensus among the services, which is standard practice. On Afghanistan, he said negotiations have ended but the ceasefire remains intact, warning that Pakistan will respond if provoked. He added that despite decades of hospitality, Afghan refugees engaged in hostile activities, and their repatriation will continue.
