ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday signed the Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy Amendment Bill 2025 into law following their approval by Parliament.
According to messages shared by PPP on social media platform X, the President gave his assent to the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2025, Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025 and Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025.
The bills, tabled by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, were passed by both the lower and upper houses of parliament – the National Assembly and the Senate – this week.
What are the main changes?
According to the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, the COAS will concurrently serve as the Chief of Defense Forces for five years. Field Marshal Munir’s tenure will restart from the date the new notification is issued.
Article 243 provisions applicable to a field marshal will also apply to a general promoted to rank. The Federal Government may authorize the Deputy Chief of Army Staff or the Deputy Chief of Army Staff to exercise powers of the COAS pursuant to written orders issued on the recommendation of the CDF.
The legislation further clarifies that once the first notice of the dual duty is issued, the tenure of the incumbent COAS will be deemed to have restarted from the date of that notice.
The federal government will determine the CDF’s duties and responsibilities, including multi-domain integration, restructuring and ensuring commonality across the armed forces.
A major structural change approved in the bill is the elimination of the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), to be replaced by the Commander in Chief of the National Strategic Command. The Prime Minister may, on the recommendation of the COAS/CDF, appoint the Commander-in-Chief from among serving generals of the Pakistan Army for a three-year term.
The terms and conditions of the appointment will be set by the Prime Minister, who can also grant a three-year extension in the interest of national security. The bill states that any appointment, reappointment or extension of the commander shall not be brought before any court.
The Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill, 2025, removes Sections 10D, 10E and 10F of the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953, which previously dealt with the appointment of the PAF Chief as CJCSC, his tenure, extension and retirement.
All references to the CJCSC have been omitted throughout the Act. Similarly, the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill, 2025 deletes Sections 14D, 14E and 14F relating to appointment and tenure of the Chief of Naval Staff as CJCSC, also removing the term from other provisions of the Act.
