President signs bill resetting COAS Asim Munir’s tenure after his appointment as CDF

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday approved three bills, including the one that resets the tenure of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir following his appointment as Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF).

The president signed the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025.

Notifications of these approvals were also shared by the Pakistan People’s Party on the social media platform X.

With the president’s assent, the bills have now become part of the Constitution.

Earlier this week, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar clarified in the National Assembly that the CDF’s five-year tenure would begin from the date the appointment notification is issued.

The three pieces of legislation — rushed through Parliament this week without debate — relate to the contentious 27th Constitutional Amendment, which paves the way for the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) and changes to the structure of the military leadership. The amendment has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition.

Under the new amendments, the term “Chief of the Army Staff” in the Army Act will be replaced with “Chief of the Defence Forces” in line with the 27th Amendment.

Similarly, the designation “Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee” (CJCSC) will be replaced with “Commander National Strategic Command”.

Furthermore, Section 8A of the Pakistan Army Act 1952 has been amended to state that if, for the first time, the Chief of Army Staff is simultaneously appointed as the Chief of the Defence Forces under Article 243(4)(a) of the Constitution, the tenure of the post will begin from the date of its notification.

Another amendment relates to the appointment of the Commander National Strategic Command, under which the prime minister may, on the recommendation of the COAS (who will also be the CDF), appoint any general of the Pakistan Army to the post for a three-year term.

The amendment also authorises the prime minister, on the CDF’s recommendation, to reappoint or extend the commander’s tenure for an additional three years.

The amendments further state that the appointment, reappointment, extension, or the discretion of the appointing authority regarding the Commander National Strategic Command cannot be challenged in any court on any grounds.

Additionally, the federal government may, on the written recommendation of the army chief who simultaneously holds the office of CDF, delegate to the vice chief of army staff or deputy chief of army staff any powers vested in the COAS under any law, rules, regulations, orders or instructions.

Meanwhile, amendments to the air force and navy laws also remove the position of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff from their respective statutes.