ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The federal government has moved the 27th Constitutional Amendment bill to the Senate, with several proposed amendments, including abolishing the “Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee” (CJCSC) position and introducing a new title, “Chief of Defence Forces”.
Addressing the media after the federal cabinet’s nod to the Constitutional Amendment draft, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the position of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is a constitutional position with a five-year term. It was proposed that the Army Chief would be the Chief of Defence Forces.
The proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment has been approved by the cabinet, virtually chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Later, the Law Minister presented the Amendment bill in the Senate.
The bill was immediately referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice by Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani.
Furthermore, Tarar said that the government plans to update defence-related provisions in Article 243 to reflect these changes.
“Positions such as Field Marshal and equivalent honorary ranks for the Air and Naval Chiefs, previously recognized under the Army Act, will now be formally mentioned in the constitution as ceremonial titles to honour national heroes,” he added.
The amendment proposes that “The Federal Government shall have control and command of the Armed Forces” and “the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces shall vest in the President”, among other things.
More to Follow
