The legislation was passed amid strong opposition from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, who objected to the manner in which the bills were introduced and boycotted the voting process.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was present in the National Assembly when the bills were taken up. Upon his arrival, he visited the opposition benches and shook hands with opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, Asad Qaiser and Aamir Dogar.
The government had introduced the bills as part of a supplementary agenda before seeking approval from the House.
New Defence Command Structure
The Defence Forces Act 2026 gives legal effect to changes in Pakistan’s military command structure introduced through the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
The law provides for the establishment of Defence Forces Headquarters, which will serve as the headquarters of the armed forces and act as the prime minister’s senior military advisory body on national security, defence and armed forces matters.
Under the legislation, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) will exercise operational command and control over the armed forces and will remain accountable to the federal government.
The CDF will also have powers relating to multi-domain integration, operational coordination, liaison and joint conduct and oversight of matters involving the armed forces.
The legislation authorises the CDF, under relevant laws, to retire, release or dismiss personnel, except individuals appointed under Article 243 of the Constitution. The CDF may also approve or reject resignations, retain personnel in service and reduce the retirement age or prescribed period of service where permitted by law.
The Defence Forces Act will apply retrospectively from November 13, 2025.
Changes to National Command Authority Act
The National Command Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026 replaces references to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) in the existing law with references to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces.
The amendment will take effect retrospectively from November 27, 2025.
The changes follow the abolition of the CJCSC position under the 27th Constitutional Amendment and the creation of the CDF post.
Opposition Walks Out
Opposition lawmakers strongly objected to the government's decision to bring the legislation through the supplementary agenda.
Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas questioned the urgency of the bills and said lawmakers had not been given sufficient time to examine their contents.
“What is the emergency? Is this how legislation is carried out?” Abbas asked.
He said he had only recently received a copy of the bill and called for more time for lawmakers to study it before voting.
PTI lawmakers subsequently walked out of the chamber in protest.
In the National Assembly, opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai also called for two to three days for lawmakers to review and debate the legislation.
“We are members of this parliament. We want legislation to be carried out,” Achakzai said, urging the government to provide the bills to lawmakers before seeking approval.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the government's decision, saying parliamentary rules allowed supplementary legislation to be introduced. He argued that the bills had already been examined and approved by the National Assembly.
Cabinet Had Approved Drafts
Earlier, the federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, approved the Defence Forces Act 2026 and amendments to the National Command Authority Act 2010.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the legislation was required to establish the administrative and legal framework for the military command structure created through the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
The constitutional amendment provides for the army chief to simultaneously serve as Chief of Defence Forces, while abolishing the office of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
The new framework also created the position of Commander of the National Strategic Command, replacing the CJCSC-related structure.
On July 24, Prime Minister Shehbaz promoted Lieutenant General Aamer Raza to the rank of four-star general and appointed him Commander of the National Strategic Command.
The legislation provides that the commander can be appointed for a three-year term, with the possibility of one additional three-year term on the recommendation of the CDF. The appointment, reappointment or extension cannot be challenged in any court.
The constitutional changes were followed by amendments to the service laws governing the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force to remove references and provisions relating to the abolished CJCSC position.
On December 4, Field Marshal Asim Munir was appointed Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces, while continuing to serve as Chief of Army Staff. The position was created under the military command structure established by the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
