Parliament Approves Armed Forces Acts Amendments: Army Chief Designated Chief of Defence Forces with Five-Year Term
**ISLAMABAD (Qudrat Daily):** The National Assembly has overwhelmingly approved amendments to the **Pakistan Army Act 1952**, **Pakistan Air Force Act 1953**, and **Pakistan Navy Ordinance 1961**, aligning military laws with the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
The amendments were presented in the National Assembly by **Defense Minister Khawaja Asif** and passed through majority voting under the **Speaker’s supervision**.
**Key Changes in the Army Act:**
* **Eleven clauses** of the Pakistan Army Act 1952 have been amended.
* The **Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee** has been replaced with the **Commander of National Strategic Command**.
* The **Chief of Army Staff** has been redesignated as **Chief of Defence Forces (CDF)**, with a **five-year term** from the date of appointment.
* Section 8, Clause 2A of the Army Act has been deleted, and Section 8A has undergone significant changes.
* The amendments are in line with Section 243, Paragraph A, Clause 4 of the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
**Changes in Air Force and Navy Acts:**
* Certain provisions of the Air Force and Navy Acts have been revised to synchronize with the new structure.
* The first appointment under the new constitutional court system will be the **Chief Justice**, as per legal provisions.
**Additional Legislation Passed:**
* The **Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Amendment Bill** was approved in the Assembly.
* The **Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill**, introduced by Member Sharmila Farooqi, was also passed despite opposition from JUI members citing conflicts with Islamic laws.
**Speaker Intervention and Session Adjournment:**
* The session saw debates over procedural suspensions and Islamic compliance of the domestic violence bill.
* Prime Minister was present and assured that the MQM-proposed amendments would be discussed with allied parties.
* The National Assembly session was adjourned until **11 a.m. the following day**.
These legislative changes modernize and streamline Pakistan’s military command structure while reinforcing legal alignment with the recent constitutional reforms.
