Pakistan’s Defence Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader Khawaja Asif on Sunday dismissed “unnecessary and irresponsible” speculations about issuing the notification regarding the appointment of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

Taking his X handle, he wrote that the process “has been initiated.”

Defence Minister said that the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently on a private visit to London, will be returning shortly and the notification will be issued in “due course of time.”

“No room for any conjecturing. Period!” said Khawaja Asif.

The 27th constitutional amendment, which has been passed by the parliament and signed by the president in the mid of the November, has abolished the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee’s role — last held by General Sahir Shamshad Mirza — who retired on November 27.

The parliament amended Article 243 of the Constitution of Pakistan and created the new post — Chief of Defence Forces — in place of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, which will be held by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, simultaneously holding the Chief of Army Staff role.

The tenure of the Chief of Defence Forces role is five years.