ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday gave his assent to three amendment bills related to the command structure of the country’s armed forces, the President Secretariat Press Wing said in a statement.
The bills — the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2025; the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill, 2025 — have now become part of the country’s Constitution, the statement added.
“With his assent, the three bills now become part of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” the President’s Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release.
Pakistan’s Senate, the upper house of the country’s Parliament, on Friday unanimously passed the bills after earlier approval in the National Assembly.
The bills, presented by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, were approved clause-by-clause during the Senate proceedings.
The amendments specify that the Army Chief will serve as the Chief of Defence Forces, according to the text of the law.
After amending Clause G, the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) will be abolished effective November 27, 2025.
Additionally, the Prime Minister will appoint the Commander of National Strategic Command on the recommendation of the Army Chief and the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
The Premier will determine the conditions, rules, and regulations of the CNSC and will also be able to reappoint the CNSC for a further tenure of three years.
The appointment, reappointment, and extension of the CNSC cannot be challenged in any court.
Retirement age, tenure of service, and removal provisions under the Army Act will not be applicable to the CNSC.
The CNSC will serve his duties in the Pakistan Army as a General.
The tenure of the CDF will start from the day the notification is issued, and the Army Chief will be the Chief of Defence Forces.
If a General is promoted to Field Marshal, he will serve under Section 2, while the Federal Government will determine the duties and responsibilities of the Army Chief and the CDF.
The Pakistan Air Force Act amendment removes Sections 10D, 10E and 10F from the 1953 law. Section 202 was also amended to remove references to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
The Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was presented by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and approved in the same Senate session.
