Senate approves armed forces, SC bills to align laws with 27th Amendment
ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Friday approved bills, three of them related to the armed forces, a day after the National Assembly passed them with a majority vote.
The bills include the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2025.
The bills redefine institutional roles and bring multiple laws in line with the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Central to these changes is the recommencement of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir’s five-year tenure under the newly created office of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar presented the Army Act Amendment Bill, saying that the approval of the 27th Constitutional Amendment necessitated changes to various Acts. He said that amendments had been made to the Army, Navy, and Air Force Acts.
The Army Act Amendment Bill was passed by a majority vote in the Senate. However, members of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposed the bill.
JUI-F’s Senator Kamran Murtaza suggested that the bill be referred to the relevant committee for further consideration.
The Senate also passed the Air Force Amendment Bill, presented by DPM Senator Dar, and the Navy Ordinance Amendment Bill, which was tabled by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
Morever, the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Amendment Bill was also approved, presented by Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. Members of PTI and JUI-F opposed the bill.
The lower house of parliament on Thursday passed the said bills to make Acts relating to armed forces and the apex court consistent with the 27th Amendment to the Constitution.
Speaking during the National Assembly, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the CDF’s term would begin from the date of his appointment.
Under the amendments, the COAS will concurrently serve as Chief of the Defence 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 the rank. The federal government may authorise the Vice Chief of Army Staff or Deputy Chief of Army Staff to exercise powers of the COAS, under written orders issued on the CDF’s recommendation.
The legislation further clarifies that once the first notification for the dual office is issued, the incumbent COAS’ tenure will be deemed to have recommenced from the date of that notification.
The federal government will determine the duties and responsibilities of the CDF, including multi-domain integration, restructuring and ensuring jointness across the armed forces. Staff Report
