ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday signed into law three key amendment bills concerning Pakistan’s armed forces.
With presidential approval, the Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2025, Pakistan Air Force Amendment Bill 2025, and Pakistan Navy Amendment Bill 2025 have officially become part of the Constitution. The legislation was cleared by the Senate a day earlier after securing approval from the National Assembly in a session presided over by Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar tabled the Army Act Amendment Bill, while the Upper House passed all three military bills with a majority vote.
Although the legislation enjoyed widespread support, a few lawmakers raised objections. JUI-F’s Kamran Murtaza and PTI’s Humayun Mehmood urged that the bills be reviewed by a committee before passage, but their request was not accepted.
The Pakistan Air Force Act Amendment Bill 2025 brings notable revisions, including the removal of Sections 10D, 10E and 10F from the 1953 Air Force Act. Additionally, Section 202 has been modified to omit references to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif presented the Pakistan Navy Act Amendment Bill, which was also approved.
A major structural change introduced through the amendments is the creation of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), a position that will be filled through a fresh notification, effectively restarting the Army Chief’s tenure. The CDF will be responsible for integrating and reorganizing the armed forces. Meanwhile, the Commander National Strategic Command will serve a three-year term, extendable once.
The legislation further specifies that the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee role will be abolished on November 27, 2025, signaling a significant transformation in the country’s military command hierarchy.
