The Senate adopts military reforms passed under the 27th Constitutional Amendment

Key legislation changing military command was passed in the Senate on Friday in line with the changes proposed in the 27th constitutional amendment. The 27th Constitutional Amendment revised Article 243 and reworked Pakistan’s military command hierarchy. The 27th constitutional amendment was passed in parliament this week amid heavy opposition.

Military Command

• The designation of the Chief of Defense begins from the date of notification
• The army chief will serve as the head of the defense forces
• When a general is promoted to field marshal, they will serve under subsection 2 of the relevant section
• The federal government will determine the duties and responsibilities of the Chief of Defense Forces
• Section 8G of the Army Act has been amended to abolish the position of Chairman of the Joint Staff Committee
• The position will be terminated on 27 November

The National Strategic Command

• The Prime Minister shall, on the recommendation of the Chief of the Army and the Chief of the Defense Forces, appoint the Chief of the National Strategic Command for a period of three years.
• The Prime Minister will set terms, conditions and regulations for the appointment of the Commander-in-Chief of the National Strategic Command
• The Prime Minister can re-appoint the Commander-in-Chief for a further three-year term on the recommendation of the Chief of Defence
• The appointment, reappointment or extension of the Commander of the National Strategic Command cannot be challenged in any court
• The retirement age, length of service, and removal provisions under the Army Act will not apply to the commander of the National Strategic Command.
• The Commander of the National Strategic Command will serve as a General in the Pakistan Army

Read: COAS Asim Munir’s tenure to be reset after military command reforms

Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025

The bill proposes to amend the Pakistan Navy Act 1961. The amendments aim to bring existing laws in line with the 27th constitutional amendment. The Act intends to reflect a multi-domain integration policy to strengthen command coordination and organizational coherence across the Defense Forces.

• All provisions relating to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee have been removed
• The Navy’s command structure will be reorganized in accordance with the new defense framework
• Terminology regarding the powers and position of the Chief of Naval Staff has been updated
• The word “or” will be replaced by “and/or” in various sections of the Navy Act
• Sections 11D, 11E and 11F have been deleted
• Section 208 has been amended to remove the references to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

Amendments to the Pakistan Air Force Bill

• Sections 10D, 10E and 10F of the Pakistan Air Force Act 1953 have been deleted
• Section 202 has been amended to remove references to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

Read more: 27th constitutional amendment sails through the National Assembly with a two-thirds majority

The Supreme Court (addition to practice and procedure)

• The Bill removes Article 191A from the Practice and Procedure Act
• References to “constitutional benches” have been deleted from the law
• Section 5 of the Practice and Procedure Act is repealed
• Amendments to Section 2 of the Act on Practice and Procedure have been approved
• Any case, petition, appeal or review before the Supreme Court will be heard by the senior most judge with regard to seniority.
• Or a judge appointed by the Chief Justice, part of a bench formed by the CJ-led committee
• If a member is prevented from attending a committee meeting for any reason, the Chief Justice may appoint another SC judge to the committee
• Committee decisions are made by majority vote

The 27th constitutional amendment

The Bill introduces the Pakistan Army Act (Amendment), Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) 2025 and Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Assembly which was passed by a majority. Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will see a reset in his tenure following his appointment as Chief of the Defense Forces (CDF), confirmed on Thursday.

Read also: The President signs the 27th Amendment into law

Amendments to the Army Act make the COAS the CDF and remove the post of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), adding that the term of the CDF will be five years from the date of appointment.

The amendment further said that the tenure of the sitting army chief would resume from the date of his notification as CDF.

The changes also included replacing the CJCSC’s position with the Chief of the National Strategic Command (CNSC). They outlined that the Prime Minister would appoint the CNSC on the recommendation of the Army Chief from the Army Generals for a three-year term.