Islamabad: National Assembly has approved the Army Act 2025 after passing the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The move paves the way for a new notification regarding the tenure of the Chief of the Army Staff as Chief of the Defence Forces.
New Notification to Reset Tenure
According to the notification, the tenure of the Chief of Defence Forces will restart under the new rules and will last for five years. Government sources said the approval ensures clarity in command and reinforces the leadership structure of the armed forces.
Legal and Institutional Aspects
Observers noted that the Army Act 2025 aligns with the recent constitutional amendment and formalizes procedures for senior military appointments. Legal experts said the changes could affect succession planning and long-term defense policy.
Law Minister explains the Amendment
The law minister explained that the amendment to the Army Act aimed to make the Chief of Army Staff the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) while abolishing the position of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC). He added that the CDF’s tenure would last five years from the date of appointment.
The revisions also replaced the CJCSC role with the Commander of the National Strategic Command (CNSC). Under the new rules, the prime minister will appoint the CNSC from among army generals based on the army chief’s recommendation, with a tenure of three years.
The law allows the prime minister, again on the army chief’s recommendation, to reappoint or extend the CNSC’s term by another three years. Additionally, the amendments empower the prime minister, upon the army chief’s recommendation, to authorize an officer serving as vice or deputy chief of army staff to exercise the powers and functions of the army chief.
Similar changes to the Air Force and Navy laws were made, including the removal of the CJCSC position from their statutes.
Next Steps for Implementation
The government will issue the official notification shortly, marking the formal start of the Chief’s new five-year tenure. Meanwhile, lawmakers emphasised that the amendments aim to strengthen institutional governance while maintaining constitutional oversight of the military.
