ISLAMABAD: In a significant legislative session, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif is set to present a series of crucial military amendment bills in the Senate today for final approval, following their passage by the National Assembly. The bills will fundamentally reshape the command structure of Pakistan’s armed forces.
The agenda for the Senate meeting includes the Army Act Amendment Bill, the Pakistan Air Force Act Amendment Bill, and the Pakistan Navy Ordinance Amendment Bill. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar will also present the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Amendment Bill for approval, marking a day of critical parliamentary business.
The most transformative change is embedded within the Army Act 2025, passed following the Twenty-seventh Constitutional Amendment. This legislation formally creates the position of Chief of Defense Forces, for which a new notification will be issued for the current Army Chief. Upon the issuance of this notification, the Army Chief’s term will recommence under this new, empowered title.
According to the act, the Army Chief and the Chief of Defense will be responsible for restructuring and integrating all departments of the Pakistan Army. Furthermore, the Prime Minister will now appoint the Commander of the National Strategic Command based on the recommendations of these two senior officials. The Commander’s term is set for three years, with the possibility of reappointment for another three-year period.
A historic consequence of this new legal framework is the abolition of the position of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, which is slated to cease to exist from November 27 of this year, consolidating military leadership under the new structure.
Meanwhile the official visit of Pakistan’s Naval Chief, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, to Bangladesh has concluded, marking a significant step in bolstering defense relations between the two countries.
During the visit, Admiral Ashraf held high-level meetings with Bangladesh’s top military leadership. He met with Army Chief General Vikram Zaman, Naval Chief Admiral M. Nazmul Hassan, and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan.
