ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Friday approved the 27th Constitutional Amendment, paving the way for the creation of a new military branch the Army Rocket Force (ARF).
Furthermore, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the high-level meeting via video link from Baku, Azerbaijan, while senior ministers and officials attended the session at the Prime Minister’s House.
In this regard, among those present were Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Education Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Ehsan ur Rehman Mazari, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, and Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan.
Moreover, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar briefed the cabinet on the key aspects of the 27th Amendment. Attorney General Awan also provided a legal overview of the proposed constitutional changes, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)’s recommendations were reviewed in detail.
The amendment introduces significant structural changes within the defence command system. Under the new arrangement, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) will also be designated as the “Commander of Defence Forces”, responsible for overall coordination among the armed services.
In this sense, the newly established Army Rocket Force (ARF) will become the fourth arm of the country’s defence establishment. It will incorporate elements of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), which previously functioned under the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).
The CJCSC position will be dissolved, with its responsibilities absorbed under the new command structure led by the Commander of Defence Forces.
Meanwhile, the 27th Amendment encompasses 46 separate changes to various articles of the Constitution. These include provisions related to the formation of a Constitutional Court, transfer of judges, and modifications to Article 243, which governs the command and control of the armed forces.
The amendment will be tabled in the Senate. Subsequently, a joint parliamentary committee comprising members from both the National Assembly and the Senate will be formed to review and finalize the proposed changes.
