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Senate Receives Draft of 27th Amendment, Army Chief to Become Chief of Defence Forces
Pakistan’s 27th Constitutional Amendment draft introduces major military reforms: Army Chief to become Chief of Defence Forces, CJCSC office abolished, and 5-star ranks given life-long protection. Political debate heats up in Islamabad.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-11-08
Senate Receives Draft of 27th Amendment, Army Chief to Become Chief of Defence Forces

The federal government presented the draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Senate on Saturday, proposing sweeping changes to Pakistan’s defence command structure and the constitutional status of its military leadership.

At the centre of the bill is a major rewrite of Article 243 of the Constitution, which governs the relationship between the Prime Minister, the President, and the armed forces. The amendment would:

·       Recognise the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) as the Chief of Defence Forces, placing the army chief at the top of Pakistan’s military hierarchy.

·       Abolish the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), with incumbent Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza set to retire on November 27, becoming the last CJCSC in the country’s history.

·       Establish a Commander of the National Strategic Command, responsible for the country’s nuclear and strategic assets, to be appointed on the COAS’s recommendation.

·       Provide life-long constitutional protection for officers promoted to five-star ranks such as Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force, or Admiral of the Fleet, with privileges and the right to remain in uniform for life.

Appointments and Powers

Under the amendment, the President would appoint army, naval, and air chiefs on the advice of the Prime Minister, with the army chief simultaneously holding the title of Chief of Defence Forces. The Commander of National Strategic Command would be chosen from the army by the Prime Minister based on COAS recommendation.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar clarified that extraordinary promotions, including Gen Asim Munir’s elevation to Field Marshal following the May 2025 India-Pakistan confrontation, would now have formal constitutional recognition. He stressed that such titles are honorific, lifetime titles, while operational commands remain defined by their respective appointments.

Political Reactions and Debate

While government officials have described the amendment as a technical update to modernise command arrangements, the proposal has ignited a political storm. Opposition parties and civil society groups warn that the bill could tilt the balance of power toward the military, raising questions about the future of civilian oversight in Pakistan.

The amendment’s timing, coinciding with Gen Munir’s promotion and recent defence-related events, has heightened scrutiny. The bill was made public after Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari disclosed that a PML-N delegation, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, had sought PPP support for the constitutional package.

If enacted, the 27th Amendment would mark the most consequential revision of Pakistan’s military command structure in decades, redefining civil-military relations in the constitutional framework.
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Pakistan

COAS

Military

27thAmendment
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