ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday approved amendments to the Army, Navy and Air Force Act following the Federal Cabinet’s approval of the proposed amendments.
Earlier, the cabinet approved the changes, shortly after President Asif Ali Zardari signed the 27th constitutional amendment into law.
The purpose of the changes is to bring the laws of the armed forces in line with the 27th Amendment, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The legislation has been passed following amendments to Article 243 of the constitution, which includes provisions on the tenure of the chief of defense forces, it added.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif introduced the Armed Forces Bills, while Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced the Practice and Procedure Rules Amendment Bill.
Speaking on the floor of the House, Tarar clarified that the amendments were not new laws but amendments to existing legislation.
“The change in the Army Act is that the current Chief of Staff of the Army will also be Chief of Defense. [CDF]and the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff position will cease to exist when the incumbent general retires,” he said.
The Law Minister said the term of the CDF 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.
The amendments to Article 243 introduced, in addition to the CDF post, honorary titles such as field marshal, air marshal and admiral of the navy.
Only parliament would have the power to reverse the titles of the chiefs of the armed forces to impeach them.
In addition, the Prime Minister would appoint the National Strategic Command Commander from the Army on the recommendation of the CDF.
Meanwhile, Tarar said changes to the Practices and Procedures Act have led to the abolition of the constitutional benches.
The Prime Minister will now send a summary for the appointment of the Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court, he added.
The Law Minister said the changes were aimed at aligning the laws governing the judiciary with the 27th Amendment.
This is a developing story and will be updated with additional details.
