Senate Passes Four Government Bills, Marking Legislative Breakthrough

ISLAMABAD, Nov 14, 2025:

The Senate on Friday approved four key government bills, including significant amendments to the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, and the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure laws.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on behalf of Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, presented the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025, both previously passed by the National Assembly. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif separately moved the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Upper House.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, representing Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, laid the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2025 before the Senate.

Key Amendments to Defence Laws

The Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2025 introduces sweeping structural changes in line with the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

A major revision replaces the title “Chief of the Army Staff (COAS)” with “Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF)”, while the position of “Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC)” is abolished and replaced with the “Commander of the National Strategic Command”.

Under the revised Section 8A of the Pakistan Army Act (1952), the tenure of the first CDF—who will concurrently hold the position of COAS—will begin from the date of the official notification.

Another key amendment authorizes the prime minister to appoint the Commander of the National Strategic Command from among serving Pakistan Army generals for a three-year term, acting on the recommendation of the CDF. The appointment may be extended for another three years in the interest of national security and cannot be challenged in any court.

The bill further empowers the federal government to allow the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) or Deputy Chief of Army Staff to exercise COAS powers under written orders issued on the CDF’s recommendation. Article 243 provisions applicable to a Field Marshal will also extend to any general elevated to that rank.

Changes in Air Force and Navy Laws

The Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025 removes Sections 10D, 10E, and 10F from the PAF Act, 1953—sections that previously outlined the PAF chief’s eligibility as CJCSC, along with tenure, extension, and retirement rules. All references to the CJCSC post have been omitted from the Act.

Similarly, the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025 eliminates Sections 14D, 14E, and 14F from the Pakistan Navy Act, which earlier defined the process and tenure of the Naval Chief as CJCSC.

These amendments collectively mark one of the most significant reorganizations of Pakistan’s defence command structure in decades, centralizing authority under the newly established office of the Chief of the Defence Forces and redefining command roles across the military branches.