National Assembly approves Army Act Amendment, names Army chief as CDF

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly has passed amendments to the Pakistan Army Act 1952, the Pakistan Air Force Act 1953, and the Pakistan Navy Ordinance 1961 by a majority vote.

The session of the National Assembly began under the chairmanship of the Speaker, in which the bill to amend the Army Act 1952 was presented.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif moved the bill, on which the Speaker took a vote, and the House passed it by a majority vote.

Similarly, the bill to amend the Pakistan Air Force Act 1953 and the bill to amend the Pakistan Navy Ordinance 1961 were also presented by Khawaja Asif in the House, and these were also passed by the members of the Assembly by voting by a majority vote.

Additionally, the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Amendment Bill also got passed. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that these amendments have been brought to bring the 27th Amendment into line with the existing law.

He added that from now on, the Chief of Army Staff will be the Chief of Defence Forces. According to the Army Act, after the new notification is issued, the term of the Army Chief will resume, and he will take over the responsibility of restructuring and integration of all sectors of the Pakistan Army.

The law also makes it clear that the Prime Minister will appoint the Commander of the National Strategic Command on the recommendation of the Army Chief, whose tenure will be 3 years, and he can be reappointed for 3 years.

Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that the Army Chief will now also be the Chief of Defense Forces, and his tenure has been fixed for 5 years.

He said that the period of appointment will start from the day the formal appointment is made. The law also makes it clear that the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee has been abolished, he further added.