The National Assembly approved changes to laws pertaining to the three branches of the armed forces shortly after the government tabled them. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif introduced the Pakistan Army Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025, which were passed with a majority vote.
Meanwhile, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2025, which was also passed with a majority vote.
The National Assembly has approved the Army Act 2025 after the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Under the proposed Army Act, a new notification will be issued for the Army Chief as the Chief of Defence Forces. The proposed Army Act stated that the term of the Army Chief will resume after the new notification. The Army Chief, Chief of Defense will restructure and integrate all the departments of the Pakistan Army. According to the proposed Army Act, the Prime Minister will appoint the Commander National Strategic Command on the recommendation of the Army Chief, Chief of Defense.
The proposed Army Act states that the term of office of the Commander National Strategic Command will be 3 years, and the Commander National Strategic Command can be reappointed for three years.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the Army Chief will now also be the Chief of Defense Forces and tenure of the post will be 5 years. The Prime Minister will appoint the Chief of Defense Forces. His term of appointment will start from the day the appointment is made. Azam Nazeer said that the law has clarified that the post of Chief of Defense will be for 5 years from the date of appointment.
The Law Minister said that the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee has been abolished. Tarar said the four bills, which were passed without any debate, were meant to harmonise the existing laws with the recently signed 27th Constitutional Amendment Act. “These are not new laws. These are amendments to the present laws,” he said.
The National Assembly on Thursday approved amendments to the Army, Navy, and Air Force Acts, following the federal cabinet's approval of the proposed changes.
The National Assembly also approved Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Bill 2025 by majority vote. The Bill was moved by PPP lawmaker Sharmila Farooqui which was opposed by JUI.
Earlier, the cabinet approved the amendments, shortly after President Asif Ali Zardari signed the 27th Constitutional Amendment into law.The purpose of the amendments is to align the armed forces laws with the 27th Amendment, read a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.
The legislation has been enacted following amendments to Article 243 of the Constitution, which includes provisions regarding the tenure of the Chief of Defence Forces, it added.
Speaking on the floor of the house, Azam Tarar clarified that the changes were not new laws, but amendments to existing legislation.
"The change in the Army Act is that the current Chief of Army Staff will concurrently be the Chief of Defence Forces, and the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff's position will cease to exist once the incumbent general retires," he said.
The law minister said that the CDF's term would be five years from the date of his appointment. He added that certain provisions have been removed from the Navy and Air Force Acts, while others have been introduced.