ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The National Assembly and Senate on Thursday passed the Defence Forces of Pakistan Act, 2026, which aims to determine the relevant administrative matters regarding the office of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
The parliament also passed the amended National Command Authority Act, 2010. Both bills were introduced by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in the House.
During the assembly session, chaired by NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the House took up clause-by-clause approval of the Defence Forces Amendment Bill 2026, which was subsequently passed by a majority vote.
The National Assembly and Senate have passed the Defence Forces of Pakistan Act 2026, which aims to determine the post of Chief of Defence Forces and the administrative matters related to the Chief of Defence Forces Headquarters as per the Federal Cabinet.
Defence Forces of Pakistan Act, 2026
The Defence Forces of Pakistan Act, 2026, states, “aims to determine the relevant administrative matters regarding the office of the Chief of Defence Forces and the Chief of Defence Forces Headquarters”.
The bill was designed to introduce provisions to give effect to the chief of the defence forces’ role as the commander of the armed forces.
“And to ensure multidomain integration, restructuring and optimum jointness of the Armed Forces,” the draft read.
According to the draft, the proposed act will enable the establishment of the Defence Forces Headquarters, which shall serve as the headquarters of the Armed Forces.
It added that the headquarters will be under the command of the CDF, who will be the “principal military advisor” to the PM on national security, defence and all matters relating to the armed forces.
“The CDF would have the operational command and control of the Armed Forces and would be responsible to the federal government for matters of command and control.”
Furthermore, the Chief of Defence Forces will have authority to retire, discharge, or dismiss any personnel of the armed forces, accept or reject their resignation, retain them in service, or relax their retirement age and length of service (other than those appointed under Article 243 of the Constitution).
It may be recalled that the persons appointed under Article 243 of the Constitution include the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (this post has been abolished in the 27th Amendment and a new post of Commander National Strategic Command has been introduced), the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, and the Chief of Air Staff.
“Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the CDF may exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as the Federal Government may prescribe,” it read.
The draft further stated that the government and the CDF could issue instructions “from time to time” and amend rules and regulations to ensure the provisions of the proposed act.
In case any difficulty or inconsistency emerges, the proposed act added that the president may “by an order, remove such difficulty”.
