ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly and Senate on Thursday passed by majority vote the Defence Forces Act 2026, and the National Command Authority (Amendment) Bill, following their approval by the federal cabinet earlier.
The Defence Forces Act was approved unanimously, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani announced, while the National Command Authority (Amendment) Bill was also passed by the upper house.
Following the passage of the legislation, the Senate session was adjourned until 10:30am on Friday.
The bills had first been approved by the National Assembly on Thursday by majority vote after the federal cabinet endorsed the draft legislation during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The cabinet had approved the Defence Forces Act 2026 to establish the required legal and administrative framework for the office of the Chief of Defence Forces and the Chief of Defence Forces Headquarters. It had also approved amendments to the National Command Authority Act 2010.
The legislation is aimed at giving effect to changes introduced through the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which was passed by parliament in November last year and brought significant changes to the country’s judicial structure and military command system.
The constitutional amendment abolished the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and created the new position of Chief of Defence Forces.
Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir subsequently became the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces.
The constitutional changes also provided for the creation of the National Strategic Command, headed by a four-star officer and tasked with overseeing the operational integration of Pakistan’s strategic forces.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had promoted Gen Raza, then serving as Chief of the General Staff, from lieutenant general to four-star general and appointed him to head the newly created command.
