Senate adopts military reforms passed under 27th Constitutional Amendment

Key legislation changing military command passed the Senate on Friday, consistent with changes proposed in the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The 27th Constitutional Amendment revised Article 243 and reshuffled Pakistan’s military command hierarchy. The 27th constitutional amendment was passed in Parliament this week, despite strong opposition.

Military command

• The mandate of Chief of the Defense Forces will take effect from the date of notification
• The army chief will serve as the head of the defense forces
• When a general is promoted to field marshal, he will serve under subsection 2 of the relevant clause.
• The federal government will determine the duties and responsibilities of the head of the defense forces
• Section 8G of the Army Act was amended to remove the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• The position will end on November 27

National Strategic Command

• The Prime Minister, on the recommendation of the Chief of the Army and the Chief of Defense Forces, will appoint the Commander of the National Strategic Command for a term of three years.
• The Prime Minister will set the terms, conditions and rules for the appointment of the Commander of the National Strategic Command.
• The Prime Minister can reappoint the Commander for a further term of three years on the recommendation of the Chief of Defense Force.
• The appointment, reappointment or extension of the Commander of the National Strategic Command cannot be challenged in any court of law.
• The provisions relating to retirement age, length of service and dismissal under the Army Act shall not apply to the Commander of the National Strategic Command.
• The Commander of the National Strategic Command will serve as a general in the Pakistan Army.

Read: COAS Asim Munir’s tenure to be reset after military command reforms

Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025

The bill proposes to amend the Pakistan Navy Act, 1961. The amendments aim to bring existing laws in line with the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The law aims to reflect a policy of multi-domain integration, in order to strengthen command coordination and organizational coherence within the defense forces.

• All provisions relating to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been removed.
• Navy command structure to be reorganized in line with new defense framework
• Terminology regarding the powers and position of the Chief of Naval Staff has been updated
• The word “or” will be replaced by “and/or” in various sections of the Marine Act.
• Sections 11D, 11E and 11F have been deleted
• Section 208 has been amended to remove references to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Amendments to the Pakistan Air Force Bill

• Sections 10D, 10E and 10F of the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953 have been deleted.
• Section 202 has been amended to remove references to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Learn more: The 27th draft amendment to the Constitution is adopted by the National Assembly by a two-thirds majority

Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure Amendment)

• Bill removes section 191A of the Practice and Procedure Act
• References to “constitutional banks” have been removed from the law.
• Section 5 of the Practice and Procedure Act has been repealed
• Amendments to section 2 of the Practice and Procedure Act approved
• Any case, petition, appeal or review before the Supreme Court will be heard by the most senior judge in terms of seniority.
• Or a judge appointed by the Chief Justice, part of a bench formed by the committee headed by the CJ.
• If a member is unable to attend a committee meeting for any reason, the Chief Justice may appoint another SC judge to the committee.
• Committee decisions will be taken by majority

The 27th Constitutional Amendment

The bill introduces the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025, which were passed by majority vote. Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will have his tenure reset upon his appointment as Chief of Defense Force (CDF), confirmed on Thursday.

Also read: President signs 27th Amendment bill

The amendments to the Army Act make the COAS the CDF and remove the post of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC), adding that the tenure of the CDF would be five years from the date of appointment.

The amendment further clarified that the tenure of the outgoing army chief would resume from the date of his notification as CDF.

The changes also included replacing the position of CJCSC with that of Commander National Strategic Command (NSCC). They stressed that the Prime Minister would appoint the CCSN on the recommendation of the Army Chief from among the Army Generals for a term of three years.