Senate Passes Defence Forces Act 2026 and National Command Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026
ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – August 20, 2026) The Senate on Thursday passed the Defence Forces Act 2026 and the National Command Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at implementing legal and administrative changes arising from the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif moved the bills, including the Defence Forces Act, 2010 and the amended National Command Authority Act, 2010, in the House. The House passed the bills through clause by clause reading.
Key Provisions of the Bills:
- Defence Forces Act 2026: Seeks to establish the necessary legal and administrative framework concerning the office of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and the CDF Headquarters. It also proposes removing the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee from the composition of the authority, representing a significant change in its existing structure.
- Amendment to National Command Authority Act: Prepared as a continuation of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, it aims to establish the legal framework for the CDF post and determine the administrative affairs and structure of the CDF Headquarters.
Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that these changes are consequent to the country’s constitutional restructuring of the defence command. The National Assembly has also passed bills to align relevant laws with the new constitutional framework.
Tarar explained that, following amendments to Article 243 of the Constitution, the office of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee no longer exists, necessitating its removal from the National Command Authority Act. Under the new amendment, the Chief of Army Staff concurrently holds the CDF post.
The legislation provides a legal basis for the establishment and functioning of the CDF Headquarters, enabling the CDF to exercise functions and authority through a structured institutional mechanism. It is designed to strengthen cohesion and coordination among Pakistan’s Army, Navy, and Air Force while maintaining their respective operational responsibilities.
Tarar highlighted the successful coordination during Marka-e-Haq on May 8-10 as evidence of the effectiveness of such unity, stating that the legislation seeks to translate this coordination into a permanent institutional framework.
