Asim Munir To Stay Army Chief Until 2035? Pakistan's Top Brass Mulls 10-Year Power Plan | Exclusive

Last Updated:September 04, 2025, 11:06 IST

At a closed-door meeting, Nawaz Sharif, Munir, Shehbaz Sharif and others agreed on a 10-year 'continuity of the system' plan to provide a stable environment for foreign investments

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir (IMAGE: AFP)

Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership has reportedly finalised a 10-year strategic power plan, with an emphasis on “continuity of the system" and long-term political and economic stability.

Sources told CNN-News18 that a high-level closed-door meeting was held at PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif’s private farmhouse in Murree and was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir, and ISI Director General Lt Gen Asim Malik.

The participants unanimously agreed on a 10-year “continuity of the system" plan, aimed at providing a stable political and security environment for foreign investments, particularly from the United States, China, and Gulf nations.

Central to the plan is the reappointment of Field Marshal Asim Munir as Chief of Army Staff, ensuring he continues to lead Pakistan’s military apparatus beyond the scheduled end of his current term on November 28, 2025, CNN-News18 has learnt. Munir, originally appointed in 2022 for a standard three-year tenure, is now expected to receive a five-year extension under amendments made to the Pakistan Army Act of 1952.

A formal notification of his reappointment is expected soon, with constitutional protections being explored to shield the extension from legal challenges.

Sources said the meeting reportedly reaffirmed Pakistan’s hybrid civil-military governance structure, where key decisions, including top military appointments, are to be made through consensus between political and military leadership.

Critical roles such as DG ISI, DG Military Intelligence, and DG-C (Counterintelligence) within the ISI will be filled jointly, with a view to maintaining institutional balance and control.

DG ISI Lt Gen Asim Malik, who also holds the National Security Adviser portfolio, is set to retire in October. However, sources indicate that an extension is under consideration to ensure continuity.

The Murree meeting also touched upon the political future of former prime minister Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned and facing multiple convictions. According to insiders, the leadership reached a firm decision: “No relief or political concessions for Imran Khan."

The leadership reportedly views Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party as destabilising forces and the current strategy is to neutralise him legally, while ensuring no legal room exists to challenge the reappointment of Asim Munir.

The Opposition, however, is in no mood to back down. PTI and allied opposition groups are reportedly planning to challenge Munir’s extension in Pakistan’s higher courts, citing concerns over military overreach, legal irregularities, and the erosion of democratic principles. To pre-empt any such challenges, the government is exploring ways to give constitutional protection to both Munir’s Field Marshal rank and his extended tenure.

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location :

Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published:

September 04, 2025, 11:06 IST

News world Asim Munir To Stay Army Chief Until 2035? Pakistan's Top Brass Mulls 10-Year Power Plan | Exclusive

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