Islamabad, November 15,2025: President Asif Ali Zardari has signed into law three major amendments to statutes governing the Pakistan Armed Forces, after they were passed by both houses of Parliament under the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
The President gave formal assent to the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2025, Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025, and Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025, converting them into acts of Parliament.
Under the amendments to the Army Act, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) will concurrently serve as the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). The CDF’s five-year tenure will commence from the date of official notification. The federal government will define the duties, functions, and responsibilities of the COAS/CDF, including multi-domain integration and restructuring of the armed forces.
The legislation also stipulates that any general elevated to the rank of Field Marshal will serve under Subsection 2.
A major change introduced through the amendment is the abolition of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), effective November 27, 2025.
On the recommendation of the COAS/CDF, the Prime Minister will appoint the Commander National Strategic Command (CNSC) for a three-year term, with the option of a further three-year reappointment. The law bars legal challenges to such extensions.
The CNSC will serve at the rank of General and will not be subject to the standard retirement age, tenure, or removal provisions of the Army Act.
The passage of these laws marks a significant restructuring of Pakistan’s military command hierarchy under the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The reforms centralise operational authority in the office of the CDF while expanding the Prime Minister’s role in key strategic appointments.
Officials say the changes aim to streamline decision-making, modernise Pakistan’s defence framework, and strengthen coordination between the Army, Navy, and Air Force — reforms that follow years of debate over civil-military balance and institutional efficiency.
