Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced the promotion of Lieutenant General Aamer Raza to the rank of four-star general and his appointment as Commander National Strategic Command (CNSC).

This move, confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Office, marks a significant shift in Pakistan’s military leadership structure following the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

The amendment restructured the military’s chain of command, transferring the nuclear management role from the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) to the CNSC.

The CNSC’s appointment, reappointment, or extension is now solely dependent on the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), a new post created under the amendment to unify armed forces command.The legal framework now shields CNSC appointments from judicial scrutiny, emphasizing their strategic importance.Field Marshal Asim Munir, who also serves as Chief of Army Staff, was the first CDF appointed under this amendment.The decision underscores Pakistan’s efforts to centralize military authority while maintaining strategic control over nuclear assets.