COAS Asim Munir's tenure to reset after military command reforms

Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will see a reset in his tenure upon his appointment as Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF) after the National Assembly on Thursday approved changes to the laws governing three branches of the armed forces.

The 27th Constitutional Amendment overhauled Article 243 and recast Pakistan's military command hierarchy.

Speak Sardar Ayaz Sadiq chaired the session as Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif introduced the Pakistan Army Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025, in the assembly which were passed with a majority vote.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2025, which also secured a majority approval in the house.

The law minister clarified that the bills passed today are not new laws but some changes have been made in the existing ones to align them with the 27th constitutional amendment.

Tarar said the four bills, which were passed in nine minutes without any debate, were meant to harmonise the existing laws with the recently signed 27th Constitutional Amendment Act. "These are not new laws. These are amendments to the present laws," he said.

The law minister said the change in the army act was to make the COAS the CDF and to eliminate the post of the chairman joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC), adding that the CDF's term would be five years from the date of appointment.

The amendment further said that the tenure of the incumbent army chief would recommence from the date of his notification as the CDF.

The changes also included replacing the position of the CJCSC with the commander of the National Strategic Command (CNSC). They outlined that the prime minister would appoint the CNSC on the recommendation of the army chief from the generals of the army for a three-year tenure.

It added that the prime minister could also reappoint the CNSC or extend his tenure by three years on the army chief's recommendation.

The amendments to the air force and navy laws included the elimination of the post of CJCSC from their documents.

Meanwhile, the amendment to the Supreme Court law paved the way for the elimination of the constitutional bench.

Earlier, Law Minister informed the house that the bills had been approved by the cabinet also.

He congratulated former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, MQM-P, PML-Q, and other allied parties for their support.

He also congratulated the nation on the passage of the historic 27th Constitutional Amendment.

Federal cabinet

The federal government made significant decisions to harmonize national legislation pertaining to defence with the recently enacted 27th Constitutional Amendment.

The cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held here at the Parliament House, a Prime Minister's Office news release said.

The cabinet approved amendments to the Pakistan Army Act, the Pakistan Air Force Act, and the Pakistan Navy Act. The revisions aimed to bring the laws governing the armed forces in line with changes introduced under Article 243 of the Constitution.

A major decision approved under the prime minister's leadership included the creation of the office of the Chief of Defence Forces, with a defined tenure. Correspondingly, the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will be abolished after the retirement of the incumbent chairman.

Additionally, the amendments introduced new honorary ranks of Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force, and Admiral of the Fleet, reflecting modern and contemporary military structures and operational needs.

The PM emphasized that these changes were part of a broader reform agenda to ensure that Pakistan's defence framework keeps pace with modern warfare requirements and global standards.

In other decisions, the Federal Cabinet also approved the draft Federal Constitutional Court (Procedure and Practice) Act, 2025, aimed at establishing procedures for the newly proposed judicial body.

Furthermore, the Cabinet ratified the decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in its meeting held on November 7, 2025.