President Zardari signs armed forces amendments into law

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zard0ari has approved amendment bills pertaining to the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force, following their passage by both houses of Parliament.

The President gave his assent to the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2025, along with the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025, officially making all three amendments part of national law.

Under the revised Army Act, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) will now also serve as the Chief of Defence Forces with a five-year tenure, while the position of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee has been abolished. The 27th Constitutional Amendment had already sanctioned that the rank of Field Marshal would be a lifelong appointment.

The amended law further stipulates that once the notification is issued appointing the Army Chief as Chief of Defence Forces, the COAS’s tenure will restart afresh.