Army Chief to Also Serve as Chief of Defence Forces, Term Set at Five Years: National Assembly Approves Army Act Amendment

Islamabad: Following the **27th Constitutional Amendment**, the **National Assembly** has passed the **Army Act 2025**, introducing significant changes to the structure and tenure of the military leadership.

Under the new act, the **Army Chief will also hold the position of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF)**. A fresh notification will be issued for this dual role, and the **five-year term** for the CDF will commence from the date of appointment.

The amendment specifies that the **Army Chief will oversee the restructuring and integration of all branches of the Pakistan Army** under the Chief of Defence Forces role. The **Prime Minister**, based on the Army Chief-CDF’s recommendation, will appoint the **Commander of the National Strategic Command**, whose term will be three years, with the possibility of a one-time extension.

**Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar** confirmed that the position of **Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee** has been abolished, consolidating the leadership under the **Army Chief-CDF** framework. He emphasized that the law clearly sets the **CDF tenure at five years** from the date of appointment, formalizing the role and its responsibilities.