Army, Air Force and Navy Acts amended to create Chief of Defense Forces and new officers
The National Assembly approved by majority the amendments to the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953 and the Pakistan Navy Ordinance, 1961, to bring the laws governing the armed forces in line with the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
The session saw Defense Minister Khawaja Asif presenting the amendment bills, which were approved by the House after the vote. Lawmakers also passed the Supreme Court Practices and Procedures (Amendment) Bill in the same session.
Explaining the amendments, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the legislative changes were introduced to harmonize the existing laws with the new constitutional framework.
He said the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) will serve a five-year term from the date of appointment, while some adjustments have been made to the structures of the Air Force and Navy. He added that amendments regarding appointments to the newly established Constitutional Court had also been approved, with the Chief Justice being the first to be appointed.
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The Law Minister further said that in future, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) would also perform the duties of the Chief of Defense Forces. Tarar said Article 243 of the Constitution had also been amended to formally recognize the rank of marshal. He confirmed that the Ministry of Defense had submitted three summaries, which were approved by the cabinet.
Later, Khawaja Asif introduced the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2025, Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025 and Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025, all of which were passed by the House.
Earlier today, the federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, approved a series of legislative amendments aimed at aligning national laws with the 27th constitutional amendment.
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The meeting, held at Parliament, also approved the creation of the post of CDF and the removal of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee following the retirement of the incumbent.
The revised legislation introduces three new honorary military ranks – field marshal, air force marshal and fleet admiral – to reflect modern military structures and contemporary defense needs.
The cabinet also approved the Federal Constitutional Court (Procedure and Practice) Bill, 2025, establishing a Constitutional Court under the 27th Amendment, and ratified the decisions of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting held on November 7.
Learn more: Constitution revised for the 27th time
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the amendments were part of the legislative process following the constitutional change. “A new post has been created under the amendment, and corresponding ranks have also been established for the Navy and the Air Force,” he said.
Asif stressed that the constitutional amendment was already part of the law and the new measures were necessary to give it full legal effect. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said it was essential to make corresponding changes in the relevant laws after the constitutional amendment.
The bill against domestic violence passed
The House also passed the Protection and Prevention of Domestic Violence Bill, introduced by MP Sharmila Faruqi, despite opposition from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) members.
MP Naeema Kishwar asked for more time to review the bill, saying: “Give us two days so that we can present amendments. We reject the domestic violence bill.” Congresswoman Aliya Kamran questioned the urgency of suspending the rules to introduce the bills, asking, “What was the urgency that led you to suspend the rules to introduce these bills?”
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The Speaker clarified that the rules had been suspended because the session was about to be adjourned.
Aliya also objected that her party was not represented on the Interior Ministry committee, arguing that some clauses in the bill were against Islamic principles. MP Shahida Akhtar Ali added: “This bill contradicts Article 227; it is a very sensitive issue. Please don’t go there, it goes against our Islamic identity.”
At the end of the debate, the session of the National Assembly was adjourned until Friday 11 a.m.
