ISLAMABAD: The Senate of Pakistan, the upper House of the Parliament, on Friday passed a package of laws, making changes in the Pakistan Army, Air Force, and Navy acts after the National Assembly passed them a day ago.
During the session chaired by Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, Deputy Prime Minister and Senator Ishaq Dar presented the Army Act Amendment Bill. The Upper House approved the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force Amendment Bills 2025 with a majority vote.
A central change confirms that the Army Chief will now concurrently serve as the Chief of the Defence Forces. Upon the issuance of the notification for this new dual role, the incumbent Army Chief’s tenure will be “deemed to have recommenced from the date of such notification.”
The federal government will determine the duties and responsibilities of the new position, including functions related to multi-domain integration and “optimum jointness of the Armed Forces.”
In a related development, the long-standing position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) will be abolished effective November 27, 2025. It will be replaced by a new role: the Commander of the National Strategic Command.
The Commander—selected by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the Chief of Defence Forces from among serving generals—will serve a three-year term. The legislation also allows for reappointment or an extension of up to three years, and includes a clause preventing courts from challenging the appointment.
Consequential amendments to the Pakistan Air Force Act and the Pakistan Navy Ordinance align their statutes with this new command structure.
The lower house also passed the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Amendment Bill, 2025. This law amends the 2023 Act to bring it in line with the establishment of a new Federal Constitutional Court under the 27th Amendment.
The changes adjust the composition of the committee that constitutes the Supreme Court benches and omit certain sections, effectively refining the apex court’s procedural domain in light of the new constitutional court.
