The army, air force, navy have been changed to create chief of defense forces, new top ranks
The National Assembly approved amendments to the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953, and the Pakistan Navy Ordinance, 1961, by a majority vote to bring the laws governing the armed forces into line with the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
In the session, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif presented the amendments, which were approved by the House after a vote. Lawmakers also passed the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure (Amendment) Bill during the same session.
Explaining the changes, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the legislative changes were introduced to harmonize existing laws with the new constitutional framework.
He stated that the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) will serve a five-year term from the date of appointment, while certain adjustments have been made to the structures of the Air Force and Navy. He added that amendments regarding appointments to the newly created Constitutional Court had also been approved, with the Chief Justice as the first appointee.
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The Law Minister further said that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) will also serve as the Chief of Defense Forces going forward. Tarar said Article 243 of the constitution had also been amended to formally recognize the rank of field marshal. He confirmed that the Ministry of Defense had submitted three summaries which were approved by Cabinet.
Later, Khawaja Asif introduced the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025, all of which were passed by Parliament.
Earlier in the day, the federal cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, approved a series of legislative amendments to align national laws with the 27th constitutional amendment.
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The meeting, held at Parliament House, also approved the creation of the post of CDF and the abolition of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee upon the retirement of the incumbent.
The revised legislation introduces three new military ranks – field marshal, air marshal and admiral of the navy – to reflect modern military structures and contemporary defense needs.
The Cabinet also approved the draft Federal Constitutional Court (Procedure and Practice) Act, 2025, establishing a Constitutional Court under the 27th Amendment, and ratified the decisions of the meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) held on 7 November.
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Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the changes were part of the legislative process after the constitutional amendment. “A new post has been created under the change and corresponding ranks have been established for the Navy and the Air Force,” he said.
Asif noted that the constitutional amendment had already become part of the law and that the new measures were necessary to give it full legal effect. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said it was important to make corresponding changes to the relevant laws after the constitutional amendment.
The bill against domestic violence passed
The House also passed the Protection and Prevention of Domestic Violence Bill, introduced by member Sharmila Faruqi, despite opposition from members of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI).
MNA Naeema Kishwar asked for more time to go through the draft and said, “Give us two days to come up with amendments. We reject the domestic violence bill.” Questioning the urgency of suspending the rules to table the bills, MNA Aliya Kamran asked, “What was the urgency that made you suspend the rules to table these bills?”
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The chairman clarified that the rules were suspended because the session was approaching adjournment.
Aliya also objected that her party had no representation on the Interior Ministry committee, arguing that some clauses in the bill conflicted with Islamic principles. MNA Shahida Akhtar Ali added: “This bill is against Article 227; it is a very sensitive issue. Please do not go ahead with it – it is against our Islamic identity.”
After the debate, the session of the National Assembly was adjourned until Friday at 11 a.m.
