The amendment reinstates the leadership of the Pakistani army by giving the Army Chief an extra responsibility as the Chief of the Defense Forces with the top honorary rank of Field Marshal being monitored by parliament.
A major step in that direction was taken on Friday, when the Senate formally introduced the 27 th Constitutional Amendment that is intended to restructure the military hierarchy in the country. Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar declared far-reaching changes, among which are the establishment of new titles of the elite, Marshal of the Air Force and Marshal of the Naval Force, which will henceforth be granted by Parliament rather than the Prime Minister.
The amendment grants the rank of Field Marshal constitutional protection so that it can only be revoked by the parliament. It also combines the leadership functions of the top leadership as there is a possibility of the Army Chief to be the Chief of Defense Forces at the same time, which centralizes the military leadership at the highest position.
Tarar said this is not merely a reform, but a historic change in Pakistan defense set-up. It has got the title and rank of field Marshal, whereas the Army Chief is a constitutional office, whose term is five years and has acquired the responsibilities of the Chief of Defense Forces.
Analysts have termed the amendment as a landmark in the defense structure of Pakistan since it gave the Parliament unparalleled powers over the highest military events that has ever happened in the Pakistani military history since the constitution of the country.
