Senate Approves Key Amendment Bills Reshaping Armed Forces Structure, and the development marks a major step in Pakistan’s constitutional and security reforms. Senate Approves Key Amendment Bills Reshaping Armed Forces Structure as the upper house passed crucial amendments related to the Pakistan Army Act 1952, Pakistan Air Force Act 1953, Pakistan Navy Ordinance 1961, and the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Amendment Bill 2025. The approval strengthens the legislative framework required after the 27th Constitutional Amendment and reinforces Pakistan’s institutional stability.
The bills were presented by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who introduced the amendment to the Pakistan Army Act 1952. The changes followed the constitutional requirement to reshape the structure of the armed forces. Under these reforms, the traditional post of Chief of Army Staff will now be re-designated as the Chief of Defence Forces, with a five-year term beginning from the date of appointment, a move designed to bring clarity and stability to Pakistan’s command system. The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee has been replaced with a new position called the Commander of National Strategic Command, aligning operational leadership with national security needs.
These amendments synchronize the Army Act 1952, Air Force Act 1953, and Navy Ordinance 1961 with the newly approved constitutional changes. The Senate’s approval clears the final legal hurdles and lays the foundation for the formal appointment of Asim Munir as the Chief of Defence Forces for a full five-year term, ensuring continuity and strengthening Pakistan’s long term defense posture.
Khawaja Asif presented the amendment to the Pakistan Navy Ordinance 1961, while Federal Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry introduced the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Amendment Bill 2025. Despite PTI Senator Humayun Mohmand and JUI F Senator Kamran Murtaza opposing the bills and calling for committee review, the Senate approved all amendments with a clear majority.
The National Assembly had already passed the same amendments a day earlier during a session chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif presented the Army Act amendment in the lower house, which was approved unanimously, demonstrating strong parliamentary consensus in favor of these structural reforms.
These legislative changes mark a transformative step in Pakistan’s governance and security architecture, reinforcing institutional harmony and strengthening the country’s defense command structure.